Chicken Soto: One of Indonesian Typical Foods

How to Make Soto: Easy and Delicious Guide

One of Indonesia's specialties is soto, which is renowned for its flavorful and cool broth. There are many regional variations of soto, such as "Soto Betawi," "Soto Ayam," "Soto Daging," and more. In this article, we will discuss how to make Soto Ayam (Chicken Soto), which is simple to prepare and perfect for family meals.

Ingredients:

1. Main Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into 4-6 pieces
• 2 liters of water (to boil the chicken)
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 stalks of lemongrass, bruised
• 3 kaffir lime leaves
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil (for sautéing)

2. Spice Paste:

• 6 cloves of garlic
• 8 shallots
• 3 candlenuts, roasted
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds, roasted
• 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric, grilled
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
• 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal
• Salt and pepper to taste

3. Toppings:

• Bean sprouts (blanched with hot water)
• Cabbage, thinly sliced
• Boiled eggs, halves
• Fried shallots
• Celery leaves, finely chopped
• Chili sauce
• Lime wedges
• Emping crackers or regular crackers

Steps to Make Soto Ayam:

1. Boil the chicken:

• In a large pot, add the chicken and water. Boil the chicken until the water comes to a boil, then add the bay leaves, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. Cook the chicken until tender and fully cooked. Once done, remove the chicken, shred the meat, and set aside. The water used to boil the chicken will serve as the broth for the soto.

2. Sauté the Spice Paste:

• Heat cooking oil in a pan. Sauté the spice paste (garlic, shallots, candlenuts, turmeric, ginger, galangal, coriander seeds, salt, and pepper) until fragrant and well-cooked. Ensure the spices are fully cooked to bring out the rich flavors of the soto.

3. Add the spice paste to the broth.

• After the spice paste is cooked, add it to the pot of chicken broth. Stir well and bring the broth back to a boil, allowing the flavors of the spices to infuse into the broth.

4. Serve the Soto:

• In serving bowls, arrange shredded chicken, bean sprouts, cabbage, boiled eggs, and celery leaves. Pour the hot soto broth over the ingredients.
• Garnish with fried shallots, chili sauce, "emping" crackers, and a squeeze of lime according to taste.

Tips:

• If you prefer a richer broth, you can add coconut milk to the soto.
• For more depth of flavor, you can use a combination of beef and chicken.

Other Soto Variations:

1. Soto Betawi: uses coconut milk and beef as the main ingredients.
2. Soto Lamongan: served with koya powder (crushed crackers) as a garnish.
3. Soto Bandung: uses beef with clear broth and adds white radish.

Your Soto Ayam is ready to be served! Enjoy it with warm rice and your favorite toppings. We hope this recipe helps you make a delicious and appetizing soto!