Guest Post #2 ~ Ayam Masak Merah

August 30, 2011
chicken-cooked-in-spicy-tomato-sauce

Check out my post for Rasa Malaysia.
I guess the best way to describe Ayam Masak Merah would be ~ Fried Chicken cooked in rich-creamy Spicy-Tomato sauce.


Mentioned Ayam Masak Merah to a Kedahan (Kedah is a state in the far North of Malaysia),  would immediately evoke memories of ‘Traditional Malay Weddings’ and perhaps Hari Raya / Eid Celebration. 

Yes… Ayam Masak Merah is not an everyday affair in a typical household in Kedah. It is a unique dish to be enjoyed on special occasions… served with Nasi Minyak / Savoury Rice, fresh salad of cucumber, pineapple, cut-up chillies and red onions.

Ayam Masak Merah has unique flavours, the taste is beautiful and unforgettable although it shares some basic similar spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise and chillies) to Chicken Curry. It is distinctively different, be it in the texture of the chicken or the tantalizing flavours in the sauce.

The chicken pieces are rubbed in with turmeric and salt and are deep fried till golden in colour. Deep frying seals the juice as well as it gives the chicken pieces, a firmer texture to every bite. The pieces are then added to the simmering sauce. This gives the chicken, its rich flavour, with its subtle heat from the chillies, sweet and sour-ish taste from the tomato soup combine with creaminess from coconut milk.


Moslems in Malaysia and around the world will be celebrating Hari Raya Aidil Fitri,/ Eid Mubarak soon, perhaps Ayam Masak Merah could be one of the dish that you might want to cook and join in the Celebration.
The recipe for Ayam Masak Merah courtesy from my sister... who happened to be a great cook.
Eid Mubarak …

‹ Next Recipe
Next Recipe
Previous Recipe ›

Comments

  1. SatrupaAugust 30, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Oh such a beautiful click .... the summery of the recipe itself speaks volume :) Hopping on to Bees

    ReplyDelete
  2. AmeliaAugust 30, 2011 at 9:16 AM

    Lisa, delicious ayam masak merah, so inviting. I'll be having this for lunch too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bee | Rasa MalaysiaAugust 30, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Lisa, thanks for your guest post. It's seriously the best looking chicken dish EVER. I drool thinking of the kenduri and I had missed since moving to the US, sigh. Selamat Hari Raya and now my eyes are set on your kuih semperit. OMG.

    ReplyDelete
  4. shazAugust 30, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Lisa, Yum! One of my fave Malay dishes!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rosa's Yummy YumsAugust 30, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    That dish looks amazing! Heading there.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  6. mycookinghutAugust 30, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    Congrats on the guest post!
    Ni memang favourite I.. boleh makan semua tanpa masalah!
    Selamat Hari Raya!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. TasteHongKongAugust 30, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    I know I may not pronounce the dish correctly, but I’m sure it is a dish I’d enjoy. You dish looks inviting indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. lenaAugust 30, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    hoping over to rasa malaysia now. Selamat Hari Raya to you, lisa!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tanvi@Sinfully SpicyAugust 30, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    Beautiful color of gravy and pretty pictures.Eid Mubarak

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shannon@JustAsDelishAugust 30, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    Oh my favourite dish.. Thanks for sharing the recipe and your beautiful photos.
    I dont like to deep fry because I absolutely hate cleaning up. Can I add the chicken into the curry paste?

    ReplyDelete
  11. kankanaAugust 31, 2011 at 6:00 AM

    your photos are always sooo amazing :) The dish looks so colorful and rich!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Biren @ Roti n RiceAugust 31, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    Your ayam masak merah looks really spicy and good! Have not had this dish in a while.

    ReplyDelete
  13. pickyin @ LifeIsGreatAugust 31, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    This dish is one of my favorite Malay lauk ayam. Kalau orang masak time Raya lagi best.

    Eid Mubarak to you and your family, maaf zahir dan batin yer...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lisa HoAugust 31, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Satrupa
    Thank you :D

    Amelia
    Yum :D

    Bee
    awww... thank you for your words of encouragement... Thank you for inviting me to your space :D

    Shaz
    :D

    Rosa
    Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lisa HoAugust 31, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    Leemei
    Thanks dear...
    sedap dgn nasi minyak :D

    TasteHongKong
    :D

    lena
    Thank you :D

    Tanvi
    Thanks :D

    Shannon
    You could... but frying gives the chicken that 'firm, bitey, texture'...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lisa HoAugust 31, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    kankana
    Thank you :)

    Biren
    :D

    pickyin
    Thank you Pickyin...
    Kita sama2 Raya and Maaf zahir batin from us too.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. MarinaAugust 31, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    She really is a great cook!

    ReplyDelete
  18. JeannieSeptember 1, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Selamat Hari Raya to you and family Lisa, this is my all time favorite chicken dish, the ayam masak merah:D Always buy this from the makcik near my workplace whenever I have a craving for it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nami | Just One CookbookSeptember 2, 2011 at 1:24 AM

    Hi Lisa! Beautiful guest post and I always love your food photography. It always make me want to grab it from the screen - people say that often, but your photography is so beautiful that it's hard to see if it's real or not (sounds exaggerating? but what can I say, it's true!). I've never tried this dish, but your delicious chicken is already in back of my memory and will try it when I get a chance!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lisa HoSeptember 2, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Marina
    She is.. :D

    Jeannie
    Thank you Jeannie...
    Very convenient to have 'Makcik Stall' nearby :D

    Nami
    Thank you Nami...
    hahaha your comments always put a smile on my face...
    You are sweet :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. myFudoSeptember 3, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    Salivating! Salivating! Eid Mubarak. Great post. Thanks for sharing. Craving for the chicken, Love the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  22. T and Tea CakeSeptember 3, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Mhhh that just looks so GOOD! You know, sometimes there are photos that almost make you SMELL the dish. This is one of them. Alas, just almost. :(

    Cheers,
    Tobias

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    Your ayam masak mesh recipe rocks! Love the photos, so appetizing. I am Having a major craving now.

    ReplyDelete
  24. WinstonSeptember 3, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    hi lisa, everything on your blog is seriously beautiful. your children must be so lucky to grow up eating all the things being cooked in your kitchen... theres so many great malaysian recipes here that i have to try... so thanks! haha

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousSeptember 3, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    I hope you had a lovely Eid! How could you not with this sumptuous looking chicken dish! I'm positively drooling!
    *kisses* HH

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lisa HoSeptember 4, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Tres Delicious
    Thank you :D

    T and Tea Cake
    I am happy to hear that :)

    Ellie
    Thanks Ellie :)

    Winston
    Thanks Winston... I just want them to 'connect' with their roots through food :D.

    Heavenly Housewife
    awww... thanks dear
    *muah*

    ReplyDelete
  27. Quay Po CooksSeptember 4, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    I can't believe I have not eaten Ayam Masak Merah.. Shame on me!! Yours made me drool!

    ReplyDelete
  28. AmeliaSeptember 5, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Lisa, I had a cute triple award waiting for you at my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnnapetSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Lisa, I just KNOW it's as delicious as it is BEAUTIFUL.

    [And thank you for the green tea matcha macarons inspiration!]

    ReplyDelete
  30. wonderful tampinesNovember 23, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Hi. Is the tomato soup the same as tomato paste? Puree?

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lisa HoNovember 23, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    Thank you Quay Po, Amelia n Annapet for your lovely comments

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lisa HoNovember 23, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    Lee
    Thanks for dropping by my kitchen...
    Its tomato soup in a can...
    Happy trying :)

    ReplyDelete

New comments are not allowed.