Soto Ayam Recipe | Authentic Indonesian Turmeric Chicken Soup
Soto Ayam (Indonesian Turmeric Chicken Soup)
Indonesia's most beloved soup: chicken simmered in a golden broth of turmeric, lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaves, then shredded and served over glass noodles with boiled egg, fresh herbs, fried shallots, and a squeeze of lime. Every region has its own soto — this is the classic ayam (chicken) version, the one Indonesians reach for when they need comfort.
Chef Yossie
Traditional Indonesian Recipe
Make this recipe taste authentic
Soto without sambal on the table is only half the dish. Ours is handmade in Lancashire using Chef Yossie's Indonesian family recipe, and it ships across the UK.
What You'll Need
Hard to find these outside Indonesia? These are the ingredients and tools that make this recipe authentic.
- Sambal OelekThe chilli base for most Indonesian dishesView on Amazon →
- Galangal (dried or paste)Peppery, pine-like root — not the same as gingerView on Amazon →
- Lemongrass (fresh or paste)Bright aromatic base for spice pastesView on Amazon →
- Dried Kaffir Lime LeavesCitrus aromatics for fish and curriesView on Amazon →
- Palm Sugar (gula jawa)Caramel depth for marinades and saucesView on Amazon →
- Granite Mortar & PestleFor grinding fresh spice pastes the traditional wayView on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links above are affiliate links — buying through them supports this site at no extra cost to you.
Interactive Cooking Guide
Master the fried spice paste, the golden broth, and the build-your-own bowl with step-by-step guidance
Blend the shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, turmeric, coriander, candlenuts, and white pepper into a smooth spice paste.
Equipment needed:
Chef's Tip:
Turmeric stains everything it touches — plastic bowls, wooden spoons, fingertips. Use steel or glass.
Fry the paste in oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and the raw smell is gone.
Equipment needed:
Chef's Tip:
The paste is ready when it darkens slightly, smells sweet, and the oil starts to separate around the edges.
Important:
Underfried paste leaves the whole soup tasting raw — don't rush this step.
Add the chicken, water, lemongrass, lime leaves, bay leaves, salt, and palm sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently, partially covered, for 40 minutes.
Equipment needed:
Chef's Tip:
A gentle simmer keeps the broth clear; a rolling boil turns it cloudy.
Lift out the chicken, shred the meat, and discard the bones. Skim the broth, taste, and season.
Equipment needed:
Chef's Tip:
Shred with the grain into chopstick-friendly pieces — not too fine.
Build each bowl: glass noodles, bean sprouts, shredded chicken, and half a boiled egg.
Equipment needed:
Chef's Tip:
Drain the soaked noodles well so they don't dilute the broth.
Ladle over the hot broth and finish with spring onion, celery leaves, fried shallots, a big squeeze of lime, and sambal. Serve with krupuk.
Equipment needed:
Chef's Tip:
Soto is a build-your-own dish — put lime, sambal, and fried shallots on the table and let everyone finish theirs.
Get the Perfect Sambal for Soto
This recipe uses our Sambal Oelek. Get the authentic taste Chef Yossie uses in professional kitchens.
Free download
The Indonesian Sambal Starter Guide
A free PDF covering the essential sambals, the pantry ingredients you actually need, and how to build authentic Indonesian flavour in a home kitchen. Sent straight to your inbox.
🛒 Perfect Ingredients for This Recipe
Recipe Match
Sambal Oelek
The essential table companion — a spoonful stirred into the broth turns comfort into fire. Ships UK-wide.
Recipe Match
Buy Sambal Online UK
Browse the full Spice Island Indonesia sambal range and find the right heat level for your cooking.
👨🍳 More Delicious Sambal Recipes
Sambal Noodle Soup
The richer, sambal-forward noodle soup for when you want heat first
Beef Rendang
The other end of Indonesian comfort — slow-cooked, dark, and intense
Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Indonesia's national dish — many warungs serve soto and nasi goreng side by side
📚 Learn More About Indonesian Cuisine
The Complete Guide to Indonesian Sambal Varieties
Which sambal belongs beside your soto? A tour of 15+ varieties
How Spicy Is Indonesian Food? A Guide for British Palates
How spicy is Indonesian food really? Add sambal to your soto with confidence
Indonesia's Chicken Soup for the Soul
Every food culture has its restorative chicken soup, and soto ayam is Indonesia's: sold from morning carts, night stalls, and family kitchens in every province, each with a fiercely defended local version. What unites them is the golden turmeric broth, built on a fried spice paste, and the ritual of finishing your own bowl with lime, fried shallots, and sambal.
It's also one of the easiest ways into Indonesian cooking for any home kitchen — one pot, familiar ingredients plus a few aromatics, and a result that tastes far more exotic than the effort suggests.
How Indonesians Serve It
The Classic Bowl
- • Glass noodles, chicken, egg under hot broth
- • Big squeeze of lime at the table
- • Fried shallots and celery leaves on top
- • Sambal stirred in to taste
Make It a Feast
- • A small plate of steamed rice on the side (yes, with the noodles)
- • Krupuk for crunch
- • Koya powder, Lamongan style
- • Sweet iced tea — the warung classic