Steamed chicken (Pepes Ayam)

Pepes ussually means wrapped with banana leaves. This dish is a sweet and mild spicy dish. I got this recipe from one of my multiply contacts, mbak Susi in Jakarta (ibutio's).



- 1 lb Chicken chunks (I prefer the boney ones)
- 1 tbsp lime juice.
- 3 stalks of lemongrass, thinly sliced.
- A bunch of lemon basil, torned.
- 4 laurel leaves (bay leaves), torned.
- 1 big tomatoe thinly sliced.
- Banana leaves for wrapping.

Spices (ground into paste):
10 shallots or 1/2 of onion.
4 cloves of garlic.
2 fresh red long peppers, seeded.
1 tsp ground turmeric.
1/2 tsp ground galangal.
1/2 tsp ground ginger.
4 candle nuts or macademians.
2 tsp salt.

Directions:
- Coat chicken with salt and lime juice, masage them for a bit then let marinate for 15 minutes.
- Mix the marinated chicken with grounded spices, basil, laurel leaves, tomato and lemongrass until well blended, refrigerated for 1 hour.
- Take the banana leaves put about 2 tbsp of chicken mixture wrap into tube, fold the both ends and staple. Make about 8 wraps.
- Steam for 30 minute or until chicken are cooked.
- Served with jasmine rice.