Be Siap Mesitsit: Balinese Shredded Chicken
A Balinese favourite, be siap mesitsit or ayam sitsit is a delicious shredded chicken dish, stir-fried with aromatic spices. It is served at almost every Balinese restaurant, and is an iconic dish in Balinese cuisine.
- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 50 min
- Yield
- 2 servings
- Difficulty
- HARD
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 500 gr skinless chicken breast
- 7 shallots, peeled, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled, chopped
- 5 curly red chillies, chopped (or big red chillies)
- 5 red bird’s eye chillies
- 3 cm lesser galangal, chopped
- 1 tsp roasted shrimp paste
- 5 kaffir lime leaves, each shredded into two
- 2 stalks lemongrass, use only the white parts, bruised
- Salt to taste
- 0.5 cup water
- 4 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil
- 1 kaffir lime juice
Instructions
- 1
Using a steamer, steam the chicken for about 25 minutes. When done, let it cool and shred the chicken. Set aside.
- 2
Using a food processor or a blender, blend the shallots, garlic, chillies, lesser galangal and shrimp paste into a paste.
- 3
Using a wok, heat the oil over medium high heat.
- 4
Add the spice paste, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, saute until fragrant, around 5 minutes.
- 5
Add salt.
- 6
Add the shredded chicken, stir to mix with the spices.
- 7
Add water.
- 8
Lower the heat to medium flame and continue cooking until the liquids have evaporated, about 15 minutes.
- 9
Sprinkle the lime juice and toss the spiced shredded chicken.
- 10
Transfer the dish to a serving plate.