Ayam bakar facts for kids
Ayam bakar or grilled chicken
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Associated national cuisine | Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Chicken seasoned with turmeric, garlic, shallots and other spices, and grilled on charcoal |
Ayam bakar is a super tasty grilled chicken dish. It comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. The name Ayam bakar simply means "grilled chicken" in the Indonesian and Malay languages. This dish is made by grilling chicken over hot charcoal.
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What is Ayam Bakar?
Ayam bakar is a popular meal in Southeast Asia. It's known for its rich flavor and smoky taste. The chicken is first soaked in special sauces. Then, it's cooked over an open flame until it's perfectly done. This cooking method gives it a unique, delicious flavor.
How is Ayam Bakar Made?
Making ayam bakar involves two main steps. First, the chicken gets marinated. Second, it's grilled to perfection. This process makes the chicken tender and full of flavor.
The Flavorful Marinade
The secret to great ayam bakar is its marinade. This is a special mix of spices and sauces. In Java, a large island in Indonesia, they often use kecap manis. This is a sweet soy sauce. They also add coconut oil to the marinade. This mix is brushed onto the chicken while it grills.
The spice mix, called bumbu, can be different in various regions. But usually, it includes ground shallots, garlic, and chilli pepper. Other common spices are coriander, tamarind juice, candlenut, turmeric, galangal, and salt.
Regional Tastes
Ayam bakar from Java often tastes sweeter. This is because they use a lot of sweet soy sauce. It can be in the marinade or as a dipping sauce. But in places like Padang, Bali, Lombok, and most of Sumatra, the chicken is spicier. It also looks more reddish. This is due to more chilli pepper and turmeric. They also don't use sweet soy sauce as much.
Grilling the Chicken
Before grilling, the chicken pieces are often partly cooked. They are simmered in the spice mixture over a small fire. This helps the chicken soak up all the delicious flavors. While grilling, more of the spice mix is brushed onto the chicken.
Ayam bakar is usually served with a dipping sauce. One popular sauce is sambal terasi. This is a chilli sauce with a special shrimp paste. Another is sambal kecap. This sauce has sliced chilli and shallots in sweet soy sauce. Fresh slices of cucumber and tomato are often added as a garnish.
Different Kinds of Ayam Bakar
There are many different recipes for ayam bakar. Each region or island might have its own special way of making it. Some popular types include:
- Padang-style ayam bakar.
- Ayam Percik and Ayam Golek from Malaysia.
- Ayam bakar Taliwang from Lombok island.
- Sundanese bakakak hayam.
- Javanese ayam bakar bumbu rujak, which is a grilled spicy coconut chicken.
No matter the type, the chicken is usually marinated in a mix of spice pastes. Sometimes, kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) is added. Then, it's all grilled until it's ready to eat!
