Sundanese Cuisine
Pepes Ayam Cabai Hijau Khas Sunda (Sundanese Green Chili Steamed Chicken Parcels)
Prep
25 min
Cook
45 min
Servings
5
Level
Medium
Pepes ayam cabai hijau is a delicious combination of savory shredded chicken seasoned with spices, wrapped in banana leaves, then steamed and briefly grilled until fragrant and tempting. The fresh spicy kick from green chilies along with the distinctive aroma of Thai basil and bay leaves makes this dish a favorite in Sundanese families. Perfect served as a side dish for lunch or dinner with warm rice and sambal.
🧂 Ingredients
🍽️ Servings: 5
Adjust the servings and the ingredient amounts & nutrition below update automatically.
- 500 grams boneless chicken thighs
- 8 pieces large green chilies
- 6 pieces green bird's eye chilies
- 6 pieces shallots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 pieces, toasted candlenuts
- 2 inch piece turmeric
- 2 inch piece ginger
- 1 inch piece kencur (aromatic ginger)
- 2 stalks, bruised lemongrass
- 4 leaves bay leaves
- 2 bunches Thai basil leaves
- 2 pieces, sliced green tomatoes
- 10 sheets, for wrapping banana leaves
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp (optional) chicken bouillon powder
- 1 piece, juiced lime
- 10 sticks, for pinning toothpicks or bamboo skewers
🛒 Products You Might Need
Meat Slicer Machine for Home, 200W Food Slicer with Two 7.5" Blades
$129.99
Pullman Loaf Pan with Lid, 2 Pack 2.2 LB & 1 LB Dough Capacity, Non-Stick Carbon Steel Bread Pan for Sandwich Bread and Sourdough Loaves, Square Toast Mold with Baking Tools, Gift-Ready Packaging
$24.28
Juicer Machines with 5.8" Large Chute, 2-in-1 Cold Press Juicer for Whole Vegetables Fruits 400W, Masticating juicer Easy to Clean Juice Extractor Machine for Making Nut Mike, Juice, Premium Gray
Vinino 2 Pack Mini Silicone Loaf Pans with Metal Reinforced Frame, 8-Cavity
* Affiliate links — you can help support KulinerBDG by shopping through them
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1 Wash the chicken thighs thoroughly, rub with lime juice and a little salt, let sit for 10 minutes, then coarsely shred or cut into small cubes.
- 2 Blend the shallots, garlic, candlenuts, turmeric, ginger, and kencur using a blender or mortar and pestle until it forms a smooth paste.
- 3 Thinly slice the large green chilies and green bird's eye chilies on a diagonal, setting some aside for topping.
- 4 Mix the chicken with the spice paste, salt, sugar, and bouillon powder, stirring evenly until the seasoning coats the entire surface of the chicken.
- 5 Add the sliced green chilies, bird's eye chilies, Thai basil leaves, sliced green tomatoes, bruised lemongrass, and bay leaves to the chicken mixture, stirring gently until well combined.
- 6 Take a sheet of banana leaf and place 2-3 tablespoons of the seasoned chicken mixture in the center.
- 7 Wrap tightly into a log or bundle shape, pinning both ends with a toothpick or bamboo skewer so it doesn't open during steaming.
- 8 Heat a steamer, then steam the parcels for 35-40 minutes over medium heat until the chicken is fully cooked and the seasoning has absorbed.
- 9 Remove the parcels, then briefly grill on a nonstick pan or over charcoal embers for 3-5 minutes on each side until the banana leaf is lightly charred and has that distinctive smoky grilled aroma.
- 10 Serve the pepes ayam cabai hijau warm with steamed white rice and shrimp paste sambal.
💡 Tips
• Choose banana leaves that are still pliable, briefly wilting them over a flame so they don't tear easily when wrapping.
• The grilling step after steaming is the key to that distinctive fragrant aroma of pepes—don't skip it even though it takes extra time.
• If you like it spicier, add whole red bird's eye chilies into the parcel before steaming.
• Pepes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and simply re-steamed or grilled before serving.
📊 Nutrition Facts / serving
215
Calories (kcal)
22 g
Protein
11 g
Fat
6 g
Carbs
💬 Comments (0)
Log In to leave a comment!
🍽 More Recipes
Sundanese Cuisine
Long Bean and Young Coconut Salad with Sweet Soy Sambal, Fresh Village-Style
Main Dishes & Rice
Pepes Ayam (Steamed Spiced Chicken in Banana Leaf)
Sundanese Cuisine
Tahu Tempe Salad with Rujak Sauce (Sundanese-Style Spicy-Sweet Tofu & Tempeh Salad)
Sundanese Cuisine
No comments yet. Be the first! 😊