Balinese Chicken Lawar Recipe

By
Yvonne Ruperti
A photo of Yvonne Ruperti, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Yvonne Ruperti
Yvonne Ruperti is a food writer, recipe developer, former bakery owner, and cookbook author. She is also an adjust professor of baking at the Culinary Institute of America in Singapore.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Aug. 30, 2018
20130508-251375-balinese-chicken-lawar-edit.jpg
An authentic taste of Bali. Yvonne Ruperti

Notes:The cooking is easy, but there are multiple parts to this dish, so it may take a bit of time to prepare. The ingredient list is long, a common theme in many Southeast Asian dishes. Candlenuts are an Indonesian nut with a waxy texture. The flavor is mild in this dish, but the nut adds body to the sambal. If unable to find, try substituting macadamia nuts. Makrut lime leaves impart a fragrant citrusy flavor and aroma, but you can substitute 1 teaspoon lime zest added at the end of cooking (flavor won't be quite the same though). Look for these ingredients in your local Asian grocery store.

Recipe Facts

Active: 60 mins
Total: 60 mins
Serves: 4 servings

Rate & Comment

Ingredients

For the Sambal:

  • 1 medium shallot, peeled and quartered

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, peeled

  • 2 candlenuts

  • 2 Thai green chiles (chopped)

  • 1/2-inch piece fresh turmeric, chopped (or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric)

  • 1/2-inch piece fresh ginger

  • 1/2-inch piece lemongrass (white part only), chopped

  • 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns

  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds

  • Pinch ground cloves

  • Pinch ground nutmeg

For the Lawar:

  • 8 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

  • 2 makrut lime leaves, finely sliced

  • 1 pound ground chicken

  • 1/2 cup homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon grated palm sugar (or light brown sugar)

  • 1 cup fresh grated coconut (or 3/4 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut))

To Serve:

  • 1/4 cup homemade or store-bought fried shallots

  • Steamed rice to serve on the side

Directions

  1. For the sambal: Place all the ingredients for the sambal in a food processor and process until mixture forms a paste, about 30 seconds; set aside.

  2. For the lawar: In medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to boil. Cook beans to crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to large bowl to cool.

  3. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Pour in beaten eggs and swirl to coat entire bottom of pan with a thin layer of egg. Cover and cook until just cooked through (top won't look wet), 30 seconds to a minute. Slide the egg omelette onto cutting board. When cool, roll up into a log. Cut the log in half lengthwise, then cut into 1-inch strips.

  4. In same skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add sambal and kaffir lime leaves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken and cook, breaking up into small pieces, until almost cooked through, about 4 minutes.

  5. Pour in chicken broth, coconut milk, and salt. Simmer until liquid is slightly thickened and gently coats chicken. Transfer to large bowl with the cooked green beans and gently toss with the egg and coconut.

  6. Transfer to serving bowl, top with crispy shallots, and serve with steamed rice.

Special Equipment

12-inch non-stick skillet with lid

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
495 Calories
38g Fat
16g Carbs
27g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 495
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 49%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Cholesterol 184mg 61%
Sodium 710mg 31%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 27g
Vitamin C 10mg 49%
Calcium 79mg 6%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 974mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

More Serious Eats Recipes