Photo by Cookido

It’s Raya season! With all the talk about the glorious Hari Raya dishes that will be cooked for gatherings, one dish will never shy away from the spotlight. That’s right, it’s Ayam Masak Merah! The mere mention of this dish will send all avid Nasi Padang lovers into salivating mode. What’s not to love about this dish? It hits all the right notes with the fragrant tang of lemongrass and ginger, the fiery kick of the sweet sambal and flavourful turmeric infused chicken. In fact, Ayam Masak Merah has become synonymous with Hari Raya festivities and sighted in many local Nasi Padang or Nasi Campur stalls in Singapore and West Malaysia. 

While there are many variations to this traditional heritage recipe, this one’s sure to bring your taste buds dancing in ecstacy. What’s the secret to whipping up a great tasting Ayam Masak Merah? The key will be a longer cooking time for your sambal and being adventurous with your sugar options for sweetening of the dish. Just skip the white sugar and opt for a combination of gula melaka, palm sugar and red sugar instead! You’ll taste the difference. And if you’re a fan of spice, load up your chilli padi for the burst of spicy sambal goodness. This dish is also best served with Nasi Tomato (Tomato Rice) or Nasi Minyak. 

This recipe uses the Kenwood Blend-X Compact Blender 1.6L