Balinese curried chicken
SERVES 4 // PREP TIME 30 MINS // COOK 50 MINS (PLUS MARINATING)
“Shobosho did an event earlier this year in Ubud where we were meant to cook our teriyaki chicken,” says Liston. “My sous-chef Yumi and I were blown away by a yellow curry we had the night before, so we asked how to make the base and changed our recipe. The result was outstanding.” Start this recipe at least 4 hours ahead to marinate the chicken. Pictured p115.
300 ml coconut cream 1 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp caster sugar 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 whole chicken (about 1.6kg), butterflied
Lemon halves, to serve CURRY PASTE 55 gm onion (about ½ small onion), coarsely chopped 20 gm ginger (about 4cm), coarsely chopped 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 60 gm long red chillies 1 birdseye chilli 2 tbsp ground turmeric 10 gm galangal, thinly sliced 1 lemongrass stalk (white part only), very thinly sliced ¼ cup makrut lime leaves, very thinly sliced 1½ tbsp shrimp paste 125 ml (½ cup) vegetable oil
1 For curry paste, blend ingredients (except oil) in a small food processor until very finely chopped, then with the motor running, slowly drizzle in oil until a purée. Fry curry paste in a saucepan over medium heat until fragrant and excess water has evaporated (3 minutes).
2 Add coconut cream, soy sauce, sugar, fish sauce and a pinch of salt to saucepan and bring to the boil. Boil until thickened (5-10 minutes), then strain through a sieve and cool. 3 Cover chicken with
180ml curry sauce, cover and refrigerate to marinate
(at least 2 hours or overnight).
4 Burn coals down on a charcoal barbecue to medium heat. Place chicken skin-side down on grill and cook, turning and basting with curry sauce occasionally, until cooked through (30-40 minutes; juices will run clear when a thigh is pierced with a skewer), then cut into 8 pieces.
5 Meanwhile, grill lemons cutside down over coals until lightly caramelised (2 minutes). Warm remaining curry sauce in a small saucepan over low heat (1-2 minutes). Pour over chicken and serve with lemon.
Wine suggestion Scintilla
Ouille savagnin from the Fleurieu Peninsula.