Indonesian
Bubur Ayam (Chicken Porridge)
Silky rice porridge with shredded chicken, spring onion and fried shallots — Indonesian comfort food for any time of day.
About this recipe
Bubur Ayam (Chicken Porridge) is a indonesian breakfast for 2 that is a gentle, mostly hands-off simmer. It’s built around chicken, and it takes about 35 min total but only ~15 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Good to know
* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- 200g chicken breast
- 1 thumb ginger
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 stalk spring onion
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1.2L water
- 1/4 tsp white pepper
- 1 tbsp fried shallots buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
SimmerSimmer.Cook in liquid with gentle bubbling, just below a boil.Glossary → the rice with water, ginger and garlic, stirring often, until broken down and creamy, 25 min.
~26 min
- 2
PoachPoach.Cook gently in liquid below a simmer — keeps delicate food tender.Glossary → the chicken in the porridge until cooked, then shred and return it.
~6 min
- 3
Season with soy and white pepper; top with spring onion and fried shallots.
~3 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Chicken breast
- chicken thigh (more forgiving), prawns, or firm tofu.
- Ginger
- a pinch of ground ginger, or galangal if you have it.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
- Spring onion
- thinly sliced onion or chives for the finish.
- Soy sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
- Shallots
- half a small red onion — milder, but close.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Peel ginger with the edge of a spoon — it hugs the knobbly bits and wastes far less than a peeler. How to prep ginger →
- Keep the white and green parts separate — whites go in early with the aromatics, greens at the end. How to chop spring onions →
- Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 15 min.
Storage & leftovers
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
Frequently asked
How long does Bubur Ayam (Chicken Porridge) take to make? +
About 35 min from start to finish, but only roughly 15 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: induction hob, pot. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Chicken breast → chicken thigh (more forgiving), prawns, or firm tofu; Ginger → a pinch of ground ginger, or galangal if you have it; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Bubur Ayam (Chicken Porridge) ahead of time? +
Cooked rice needs care: cool it quickly (within an hour), refrigerate in a covered container, and eat within a day — reheating it until piping hot all the way through. Don’t leave cooked rice at room temperature.
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