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Indonesia · Food

Ayam Bakar Taliwang

60 min
750 kcal
4 servings

By eatmundo · August 4, 2026

Ayam Bakar Taliwang🇮🇩AI-generated image

Same ingredients, elsewhere in the world

5 matches

Dishes from other countries' kitchens, made from the same core ingredients as Ayam Bakar Taliwang. The percentage is the share of ingredients the two recipes have in common.

Same technique: Grilled & roasted54 recipes from 17 countriesSee all 5 matches

A spicy and succulent grilled chicken originating from Lombok, characterized by its fiery chili paste and aromatic spices.

According to eatmundo's ingredient comparison, the closest dish to Ayam Bakar Taliwang from another cuisine is Chicken Kapitan (Malaysia): the two share 63% of their ingredients.

Ingredients

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Adapt this recipe:
4 servings

How to Make It

  • 1

    Grind the red chilies, bird's eye chilies, shallots, garlic, candlenuts and shrimp paste into a smooth paste using a mortar or blender.

  • 2

    Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large wok over medium heat and sauté the spice paste until fragrant, about 3 minutes.

  • 3

    Add the 1kg of chicken pieces to the wok and coat them thoroughly in the fragrant paste.

  • 4

    Pour in the 500ml of coconut milk, add the crushed lemongrass stalks, the palm sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt, and stir to dissolve.

  • 5

    Simmer the chicken uncovered on medium heat for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces to a thick, clinging sauce.

  • 6

    Preheat your charcoal grill or oven broiler to medium-high heat.

  • 7

    Remove the chicken from the sauce and grill for 5 minutes per side until charred, basting with the leftover sauce.

  • 8

    Serve the grilled chicken immediately with hot jasmine rice and fresh lime wedges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ayam Bakar Taliwang?

Ayam Bakar Taliwang is a grilled chicken dish originating from Lombok, Indonesia. The chicken is cooked in coconut milk with a fiery paste of red chilies, bird's eye chilies, shallots, garlic, candlenut and shrimp paste, then grilled, and is typically eaten as a main meal with rice.

Can I use chicken breast?

Yes, but bone-in thigh or leg meat is preferred as it stays moist during the intense grilling process.

Is it very spicy?

The authentic dish is quite spicy. For a milder version, use fewer bird's eye chilies.

Do I need to soak the candlenuts?

No, just grind them well. They act as a thickener and provide a creamy nutty flavor to the sauce.

Can I cook this indoors?

Absolutely, using a grill pan or a high-heat oven broiler will yield excellent charred results.

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