Ayam masak kicap is one Malay dish which is commonly found in Malaysia or even in Indonesia. The Malay word ‘ayam’ refers to chicken, ‘masak’ means cook and ‘kicap’ brings the meaning of soy sauce. This sweet and spicy chicken dish uses a blend of spices along with a combination of dark soy sauces. The taste is absolutely divine. I knew that this had to be the first recipe to record and share on Nyonya Cooking. This dish is popularly sold at stalls or restaurants around Malaysia.
Why should I fry chicken pieces?
Sweet and spicy soy sauce chicken is not as plain as it sounds or appears to be. It has a combination of flavours to it. The gravy itself is enough to keep you begging for more. The best part is when the gravy coats the meat. Therefore, the chicken pieces need to be fried before hand to ensure that they will be easily coated with the gravy.
Adapt this to a stir-fry dish
When deep frying becomes a hassle, marinate chicken with the blended ingredients and sauces overnight or for at least 4 hours. Then, sauté the marinated chicken and gravy in 2 tablespoons of oil and turn it into a quick weekday dish instead.
Sugar is optional
Honey is the main ingredient that provides sweetness to the dish. It could be expensive in certain countries. Therefore, it can be substituted with sugar. However, this is optional. Feel free to use other sweetener such as agave syrup.
