Bored of your usual chicken dishes? Give this Balinese Spiced Chicken a go! Known as Ayam Bumbu Bali in Indonesia, this dish is packed with bold spices and a rich, savory-sweet flavor that will blow your taste buds away. It’s perfect with a bowl of warm rice and makes a stunning centerpiece for any meal.
Best part? You don’t need fancy ingredients—just a handful of simple spices and under an hour of your time.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 500 grams chicken (cut into pieces)
- 2 kaffir lime leaves
- 1 stalk lemongrass, smashed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp grated palm sugar or brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp stock powder (optional)
- Water as needed
- Cooking oil for sautéing
Spice Paste:
- 6 shallots
- 4 garlic cloves
- 5 red chili peppers
- 3 bird’s eye chilies (adjust to taste)
- 2 candlenuts (or macadamia), roasted
- 1 cm ginger
- 1 cm galangal
- 1 cm turmeric
Instructions
- Briefly boil the chicken to clean it, then drain.
- Blend or pound the spice paste ingredients until smooth.
- Heat oil in a pan, sauté the spice paste along with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant and well-cooked.
- Add the chicken, stirring to coat it evenly with the spices.
- Pour in water until the chicken is slightly submerged. Add salt, sugar, and optional stock powder.
- Simmer over low heat until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with steamed rice!
Tips for Best Results
- Free-range chicken works great for deeper flavor and texture.
- For extra heat, throw in more bird’s eye chilies or chili flakes.
- A squeeze of lime juice over the final dish adds a zingy finish!
This Balinese Spiced Chicken is the kind of meal that brings the taste of Indonesia right to your kitchen. Warm, bold, and full of character—don’t be surprised if it becomes a weekly favorite!