Indonesian turmeric chicken soup with aromatics — the essential comfort food.
Soto Ayam is Indonesia's most iconic soup and national comfort food — chicken is simmered in a fragrant broth infused with turmeric, ginger, garlic, and galangal, creating a golden, warming soup that's both medicinal and deeply delicious. It's served with egg noodles and hard-boiled eggs, and each region has its own variation. This is the dish every Indonesian mother makes when someone needs comfort.
Serves 6
Grind turmeric, garlic, ginger, galangal, shallots, and candlenuts into a paste.
Bring water to boil. Add chicken and bring back to boil, skimming foam.
Add spice paste and lemongrass. Simmer for 30 minutes until chicken is cooked. Season with salt.
Divide noodles into bowls. Add a piece of chicken, egg halves, and ladle soup over. Serve with lime wedges and fried shallots.
The turmeric-ginger base is essential for authentic flavor.
Don't overcook the chicken — keep it tender.
Add potatoes or corn.
Use lamb or beef instead of chicken.
Refrigerate up to 4 days. Broth separates when cold.
Soto Ayam is sold by street vendors throughout Indonesia and is considered the unofficial national soup, eaten daily by millions.
Greater galangal is a rhizome similar to ginger but with a more floral, medicinal flavor. It's essential to authentic soto ayam.
Per serving (450g / 15.9 oz) · 6 servings total
Ask our AI cooking assistant anything about this recipe — substitutions, techniques, scaling.
Chat with AI Chef →Join the conversation
Sign in to leave a comment and save your favourite recipes