Turning the heat up with Manado spices

JAKARTA (JP): If you like hot-and-spicy meals, you may want to include these popular recipes from Manado, North Sulawesi, on your menu. Rica-rica is easy to prepare and you can try another variation of Woku Belanga, called Waka, simply by wrapping the chicken pieces in waka leaves and steaming them for at least an hour until the meat is cooked and tender. Both meals are best served with warm rice.

Woku Belanga

* 8 chicken pieces * 2 stalks leeks, sliced * 50 g fresh basil leaves * 2 lemon grass, bruised * 2 kaffir lime leaves, bruised * 2 salam leaves * 1 tomatoes, sliced * salt * 2 tbsps cooking oil * 250 ml water

Finely ground * 5 shallots * 3 garlic * 3 centimeter stalk ginger * 2 centimeter stalk turmeric * 5 red peppers, sliced

Makes 8 servings

1. Pour oil into a frying pan, cook the finely ground ingredients over medium heat until fragrant.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, combine well and cook for 45 minutes or until the chicken pieces are tender and liquid evaporates. Remove lemon grass and serve warm.

Rica-Rica

* 8 chicken pieces * 1 tsp lemon juice * salt * 2 tomatoes, sliced * 4 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced * 6 shallots, thinly sliced * 2 centimeter stalk ginger, bruised * Cooking oil * 100 ml water

Makes 8 servings

1. Season chicken pieces with lemon juice and salt. Deep fry them until slightly brown. Set aside.

2. Leave some three tablespoons of oil in the frying pan, cook the remaining ingredients, except water, for 7 minutes or until fragrant. Add the chicken pieces and water, cook for another 10 minutes. Serve warm. (Maria Endah Hulupi)