Recipes

Kalasan Fried Chicken Recipe

Name: Kalasan Fried Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 60 Minutes
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients: 1 free-range chicken (cut into 4 pieces); 500 ml coconut water; 500 ml Nabati Cermelang cooking oil (for frying); 2 bay leaves; 2 cm galangal, bruised; 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised; 2 tbsp palm sugar, finely shaved; 1 tbsp tamarind water; Salt to taste; 6 shallots; 4 cloves garlic; 1 tbsp coriander powder; 3 candlenuts, toasted; Garnish: Tomato shrimp paste sambal, fresh vegetables (cucumber, basil, cabbage).

Published November 13, 2025

Quick 60 Minutes

Serves 4 Servings

Difficulty Medium

Scroll for full method, ingredients, and chef’s notes.

Ingredients

What you need

Gather everything first for a smoother cooking flow.

1 free-range chicken (cut into 4 pieces)
500 ml coconut water
500 ml Nabati Cermelang cooking oil (for frying)
2 bay leaves
2 cm galangal, bruised
1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
2 tbsp palm sugar, finely shaved
1 tbsp tamarind water
Salt to taste
6 shallots
4 cloves garlic
1 tbsp coriander powder
3 candlenuts, toasted
Garnish: Tomato shrimp paste sambal, fresh vegetables (cucumber, basil, cabbage).

Method

Step-by-step

1
Place the chicken in a wok. Add the spice paste, bay leaves, galangal, lemongrass, palm sugar, and tamarind water.
2
Pour in the coconut water until the chicken is submerged. Add salt.
3
Cook (simmer or 'ungkep') the chicken over low to medium heat. Cover the wok.
4
Cook until the chicken is tender and the coconut water has reduced completely, leaving behind a thick spice paste. This process is vital for the sweet and savory flavors to infuse.
5
Remove the chicken and drain. Let it cool slightly so the spices cling to the skin.
6
Heat a generous amount of Nabati Cermelang cooking oil (deep fry) in a wok over medium heat.
7
Fry the chicken in the hot oil. Important: This frying process is very short, its purpose is only to give a golden-brown color and a slightly crisp texture to the outside.
8
Do not fry for too long, as the chicken is already cooked and the high sugar content (from palm sugar and coconut water) will cause it to burn quickly. Frying for 2-3 minutes per side is sufficient.
9
Remove the chicken, drain the oil well.
10
Serve the Kalasan Fried Chicken warm with steamed rice, tomato sambal, and fresh vegetables.

Chef’s Notes

Tips & extra guidance

Kalasan Fried Chicken is a culinary heritage originating from the Kalasan area, Sleman, Yogyakarta. This dish is renowned throughout Indonesia for its very distinctive flavor: a dominant blend of legitimate sweetness from palm sugar and a rich savoriness from coconut water. Unlike other fried chickens that highlight salty or strong spice flavors, Ayam Kalasan plays on a softer yet deeper harmony of tastes, making it a favorite for lovers of sweet and savory food.

The cooking process for this dish is unique because it uses coconut water as the main liquid for simmering the chicken. Coconut water not only adds a natural savory taste but also helps to tenderize the chicken meat, especially if using free-range chicken which has a tougher texture. This slow simmering process allows the spice paste, palm sugar, and tamarind water to penetrate right down to the bone. These spices are what will caramelize during the frying stage.

This is where the role of Nabati Cermelang cooking oil becomes crucial, especially in the final step. Because the chicken is already cooked and rich in sugar from both the coconut water and palm sugar, the frying process must be quick and in hot, but controlled, oil. Nabati Cermelang's heat-stable oil allows the chicken to be briefly dipped to achieve a beautiful golden-brown color and a slightly crispy outer layer without burning it. If the oil isn't hot enough, the chicken will absorb oil; if it's too hot or fried too long, the sugar will burn, and the chicken will turn bitter.

Clear, high-quality oil ensures that the authentic flavor from the coconut water spice-paste is preserved. The final result is fried chicken with a glistening, appetizing caramelized appearance, super tender meat, and a perfectly infused sweet-savory taste. Served with fresh tomato sambal as a balance to its sweetness, this Kalasan Fried Chicken Recipe is a true embodiment of Javanese culinary richness.