Soto ayam (Javanese-style chicken soup)

For the chicken soup

1 ½ kgs	Free-range organic chicken, jointed (Main)
1 stalk	Lemongrass, lightly bruised
1	Water
8 cm	Turmeric, use turmeric root or add 2 tsp of ground turmeric to the bumbu
4 cm	Fresh ginger
1 Tbsp	Vegetable oil
1 to taste	Salt & freshly ground pepper
250 g	Potatoes
200 g	Rice
4	Eggs
100 g	Noodles, su-un noodles
100 g	Bean sprouts, washed twice with boiling water then drained
2	Spring onions, chopped
1 to garnish	Celery leaves
1 optional	Lemon juice
½ to	Onions, for crispy fried onions

For the bumbu

10	Shallots, finely chopped
2	Garlic cloves, finely chopped
8	Kemiri (candlenuts), roasted
1 tsp	Ground coriander
1 tsp	Cumin
1 Tbsp	Smoked chilli sambal

Directions

1. Put the chicken pieces in a large saucepan and add enough water to cover. Add the lemongrass, ginger and, if using, fresh turmeric and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hours.
2. Meanwhile, pound all bumbu ingredients to a smooth paste using a pestle and mortar. Strain the stock through a fine sieve into a bowl.
3. Take the chicken meat off the bones and tear it into shreds. Gently fry the bumbu in the oil in the saucepan until fragrant. Return the stock and chicken meat to the saucepan, simmer for another hour, then season.
4. Meanwhile, towards the end of the cooking time, cook the potatoes until tender, hard-boil the eggs and cook the rice and noodles. Peel and coarsely chop the cooked potatoes and eggs.
5. In individual soup bowls or plates, layer a small cup of rice and some noodles, bean sprouts, spring onions, potato and egg. Pour over some piping-hot broth and add some chicken meat. Top with celery leaves and fried onions. Squeeze over lemon juice if desired.