Easy Delicious Ayam Bakar Taliwang (Lombok Grilled Chicken)

Lombok is known for its famous ayam bakar taliwang. Chicken pieces are coated in super aromatic spices and herbs and then grilled to perfection. The recipe can be made with Instant Pot or on the stove.

What is ayam bakar taliwang?

Ayam Bakar Taliwang is a fiery and aromatic grilled chicken dish from Lombok, Indonesia. Marinated in a bold blend of chilies, garlic, shrimp paste, and tamarind, this dish is known for its intense heat, smoky aroma, and deep umami flavor. Traditionally grilled over charcoal, the chicken develops a beautifully charred exterior while staying juicy inside. Often served with steamed rice and plecing kangkung (spicy water spinach salad), Ayam Bakar Taliwang is a must-try for spice lovers and a true taste of Indonesian cuisine.The chicken is cooked in aromatic spices and other ingredients and then usually grilled in an open fire (bakar). A modern twist to the recipe is to grill or broil the chicken in the oven to get that nice golden brown and some light chars.
Traditional ayam bakar taliwang is made extremely spicy. I did not make mine too spicy because my kids cannot handle that much heat yet. They can eat spicy food, but not at the extreme level…yet!

Special ingredients

1. KENCUR (LESSER GALANGAL/SAND GINGER)
Kencur gives a very distinctive aroma to this dish. It’s hard to describe the aroma, but it’s not similar to ginger or galangal (lengkuas), despite many people say you can substitute with galangal and ginger. If you can find kencur powder, then you can use it. If you have never had kencur before, chances are you won’t know anyway, and you can use galangal instead. I won’t use ginger because it’s not even close to what kencur aroma supposed to be
2. SHRIMP PASTE
I use a shrimp paste (wet kind), but in Indonesia, most people will use the dry terasi that comes in a block. If you use the dry terasi, break them up in smaller pieces and toast them briefly on a dry pan until aromatic
3. CANDLENUTS (KEMIRI)
Many of Indonesian recipes use candlenuts. It adds some creaminess and thicker texture to the dish. You can always substitute with unsalted macadamia nuts, almonds, or cashew nuts

Parts of chicken to use

Ayam bakar dishes like this are usually made with bone-in skin-on chicken pieces. I use a combination of chicken thighs and drumsticks (pretty big drumsticks), since they cook at pretty much the same time. You can use leg quarters or chicken wings too. I recommend using all the same cut or combinations of cut that have pretty close cooking time so the chicken is cooked at the same time

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