Ayam Pongteh (Nyonya Chicken Stew)
Today's RECIPE is a Malaccan Peranakan Chicken Stew called Ayam Pongteh. Every Baba/Nyonya has his/her own special way of preparing this dish. Some may omit mushrooms or potatoes and some add bamboo shoots. However you cook it...the essential ingredients are the shallots and garlic paste and the preserved bean paste/taucheo. It is a flavorful dish and when served with sambal belacan, it tastes awesome!
Recipe by Mama Ding
Total Time | 60 mins
Prep Time | 20 mins
Cook Time | 40 mins
Servings : 2 - 4
Ingredients
1 kg (2.2 lb) chicken, chopped into pieces
5 firm texture yellow flesh potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
10 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked and sliced into quarters
4 tbsp preserved bean paste/taucheo , mashed
15 shallots , peeled
8 pips garlic , peeled
3 cups water (use the mushroom soaking water)
Seasoning~
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp light soy sauce or to taste
white pepper powder to taste
3 tbsp gula Melaka/palm sugar, chopped finely
Method
01 Blend/pound the shallots and garlic to a paste, set aside.
Deep fry the potatoes for about 5mins, drain and set aside.
02 Heat 4 tbsps oil in a wok/pan, add in the shallot-garlic paste. Saute the paste until aromatic, about 3 - 4 mins.
Add in the mashed preserved bean paste/taucheo and fry till fragrant, about 2 mins.
03 Add in chicken meat and stir fry on medium heat until everything is well combined.
Add seasoning and water. Mix well and bring to the boil.
04 Cover and braise for 20 mins.
Add in potatoes, cover and braise for another 15 mins or until the chicken pieces are tender and potatoes are soft.
05 Dish up onto your serving plate.
Serve hot immediately with rice and sambal belacan. (see below for recipe)
This dish can also be served with bread.
Notes
For a simple sambal belacan, blend or pound (in a pestle and mortar) 6 fresh red chillies, 3 bird’s eye chillies with 1 tbsp of toasted belacan(shrimp paste). Transfer to a bowl, add the juice of 2 kalamansi limes and sugar to taste. Add salt if needed, some belacan may be salty.
Sliced bamboo shoots can also be added at step 02 after adding the bean paste, if desired.
Replaced chicken with pork (shoulder or belly) for Babi Pongteh. Adjust braising time and braise until meat is tender.