Semur Chicken Braised in Indonesian-Spiced Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-16 · Updated 2026-06-16

Tender chicken slowly braised in a fragrant Indonesian-inspired soy and spice sauce, offering a depth of sweet and savory flavors popular in Australian kitchens. This Australian-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, blends chicken thighs, vegetable oil, shallots into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6, bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3, thinly sliced shallots
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp, grated ginger
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 whole star anise
• 4 whole cloves
• 1/4 cup sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp for garnish fresh coriander leaves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Season 6 chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Brown chicken, skin side down, for 5 minutes until golden, then flip and brown the other side for 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: Reduce heat to medium. Add 3 thinly sliced shallots, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp grated ginger to the pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and softened.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 cinnamon stick, 2 whole star anise, and 4 whole cloves, cooking for 1 minute to toast the spices.
4. Step 4: Return chicken to pot. Add 1/4 cup sweet soy sauce, 2 tbsp light soy sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low.
5. Step 5: Braise chicken gently for 35-40 minutes until tender and sauce has thickened slightly.
6. Step 6: Stir in 1 tbsp fresh lime juice, adjust seasoning with salt if needed.
7. Step 7: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves before serving with steamed rice or crusty bread.