Base Be Siap (Spice Paste for Chicken)

This spice paste was made for Tum Ayam (Minced Chicken in Banana Leaf) during my Balinese Cooking Class.

Base Be Siap — Spice Paste for Chicken (recipe by I Nyoman Sudiyasa of Sate Bali)

Ingredients:

• 4 shallots, peeled
• 26 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 inch Kencur root, peeled and chopped
• 1.5 inch laos, peeled and chopped
• 10 candlenuts
• 5 inch fresh turmeric, peeled and chopped
• 4 T chopped palm sugar
• 4 T vegetable oil
• 2 stalks lemon grass, bruised
• 2 salam leaves
• 10 bird’s eye chilies, finely slices

Directions:

Put shallots, garlic, kencur, laos, candlenuts, turmeric, and palm sugar into a food processor and grind coarsely.  Heat oil and fry all the ingredients until very hot, stirring frequently, until the marinade changes to a golden color.  Let cool before using.

We used this chicken spice paste to make Tum Ayam (Minced Chicken in Banana Leaf).