🍅 Ayam Masak Merah: Spicy Tomato Chicken You’ll Keep Craving

Bold, aromatic, and beautifully red — Ayam Masak Merah is a festive Malay dish that tastes as good as it looks. Often served at weddings and special occasions, it features fried chicken simmered in a rich, spicy tomato sauce that’s slightly sweet, tangy, and totally satisfying.

🍗 Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (cut into 10–12 pieces)

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• Salt to taste

• Oil for frying

For the Sauce:

• 1 large onion (sliced)

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1 inch ginger

• 8 dried chilies (soaked and blended)

• 2 fresh red chilies (blended)

• 1 cup tomato puree

• ½ cup water

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 1 star anise

• ½ tsp sugar

• Salt to taste

• ½ cup coconut milk (optional, for richness)

🔥 Instructions:

1. Prep the Chicken:

• Rub chicken with turmeric and salt.

• Deep-fry until golden brown. Set aside.

2. Make the Sauce Base:

• Blend garlic, ginger, and soaked dried chilies until smooth.

• In a pan, sauté sliced onions until soft.

• Add blended chili paste and cook until oil separates (pecah minyak).

• Add tomato puree, water, cinnamon, and star anise. Simmer 10 mins.

3. Add Chicken & Finish:

• Add fried chicken to the sauce and stir well.

• Season with sugar and salt to taste. Add coconut milk if using.

• Let simmer for another 10–15 minutes until thick and glossy.

🍽️ Serve With:

• Nasi Tomato or plain rice

• Sliced cucumber or acar (pickled veg)

• Fried shallots on top for extra kick

🧑‍🍳 Why It’s Great for Cooking Classes:

Ayam Masak Merah introduces essential Malay cooking techniques — like spice blending and chili frying — while offering a beautiful, flavourful dish that looks impressive and tastes even better the next day!