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.

📝 Ingredients

• 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. 1Using a steamer, steam the chicken for about 25 minutes. When done, let it cool and shred the chicken. Set aside.
2. 2Using a food processor or a blender, blend the shallots, garlic, chillies, lesser galangal and shrimp paste into a paste.
3. 3Using a wok, heat the oil over medium high heat.
4. 4Add the spice paste, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, saute until fragrant, around 5 minutes.
5. 5Add salt.
6. 6Add the shredded chicken, stir to mix with the spices.
7. 7Add water.
8. 8Lower the heat to medium flame and continue cooking until the liquids have evaporated, about 15 minutes.
9. 9Sprinkle the lime juice and toss the spiced shredded chicken.
10. 10Transfer the dish to a serving plate.