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Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)

written by Marvellina Updated: February 29, 2024
8.9K
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Chicken is marinated in spices and cooked in aromatic herbs and spices and then grilled over charcoal. In this recipe, I’m showing you how to cook the chicken on the stove or Instant Pot multicooker and then grill the chicken in the air-fryer, oven, or on the stove instead. The result is delicious and we can’t get enough of the sauce too.Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)

What is ayam percik ?

Ayam means chicken and percik means splashing in Malay language. The chicken is grilled while basting in the aromatic sauce (hence the name percik).  The taste is savory, sweet, tangy, umami, and spicy. It is a taste bud pleaser for sure!

What cut of chicken to use

I use drumsticks for this recipe, but feel free to use thighs, or use larger cut such as a leg quarter (drumstick + thigh). You can also use smaller cuts such as chicken drumettes or chicken wings if you prefer

Cooking method

Traditionally, ayam percik is slowly grilled over an open fire. But fret not, you can still make ayam percik at home using a more modern approach such as using a pressure cooker to cook the chicken with the aromatic sauces and then grill them with an air-fryer, broil in the oven, or using a grill pan on the stove.

How to cook ayam percik at home

1. Pat the chicken dry with an absorbent paper towel. Marinate the chicken with salt, turmeric powder, and chili boh for at least 2 hours or overnight for the best result

2. Put all ingredients for the ground paste in a food processor. Process into a paste consistency

3. Preheat a large wok or pan with 3 tbsp cooking oil. Add the ground paste and stir fry until aromatic, about 8-10 minutes

4. Add the tamarind paste, coconut cream, coconut milk, followed by the seasonings. Stir to combine

5. Add the chicken pieces and bring the sauce to a simmer. Cover with a lid. Let the chicken cook for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through



6. Remove the chicken pieces from the sauce. Continue to cook the sauce over medium-low heat to evaporate water and to thicken the sauce slightly. Have a taste and adjust to your preference

5. To grill the chicken in air-fryer: Oil the base of your air-fryer basket with some oil or you can line with aluminum foil. Arrange the chicken pieces on the basket in one layer. You will need to cook in batches. Baste the chicken using a pastry brush, with the sauce. If there’s a grill function, you can use that. It’s 375 F until the chicken is slightly charred at some spots


6. To grill the chicken with a pan on the stove: Preheat the pan over medium-high heat. Add a bit of oil, about 1 Tbsp. Add the chicken pieces and baste with the sauce as needed. Cook until you get some chars at certain spots

7. To broil the chicken in the oven: Turn on the broil function in your oven. I set the broiler to low. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Baste the chicken with the sauce. Put the baking sheet inside the oven and let it broil on low until you get some nice chars on certain spots
8. Serve with some rice and the drizzle some of the sauce on the ayam percik or serve the sauce on the side
Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)

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Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)

Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)

Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)

Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
marinate the chicken 2 hours hrs
Total Time 2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins
Servings 6 servings
5 from 5 reviews
REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

To marinate the chicken:

  • 1 kg bone-in skin-on drumsticks you can also use chicken thighs, leg quarter, wings, etc
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 Tbsp chili boh more or less to your taste. you can also use sambal oelek
  • 3 Tbsp cooking oil

Ground paste:

  • 2 Tbsp chili boh
  • 8 shallots
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 20 gr ginger
  • 4 candlenuts or use macadamia nuts
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds

Seasonings:

  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp sugar

Other ingredients:

  • 2 stalks lemongrass
  • 1 Tbsp tamarind paste

If cooking on the stove:

  • 250 ml coconut cream
  • 200 ml coconut milk

If cooking with Instant Pot pressure cooker:

  • 200 ml chicken broth
  • 250 ml coconut cream

Instructions
 

Marinate the chicken:

  • Pat the chicken dry with an absorbent paper towel. Marinate the chicken with salt, turmeric powder, and chili boh for at least 2 hour or overnight for the best result

Prepare ground paste:

  • Put all ingredients for the ground paste in a food processor. Process into a paste consistency

Cooking on the stove:

  • Preheat a large wok or pan with 3 tbsp cooking oil. Add the ground paste and stir fry until aromatic, about 8-10 minutes. Add the tamarind paste, coconut cream, coconut milk, followed by the seasonings. Stir to combine. Add the chicken pieces and bring the sauce to a simmer. Cover with a lid. Let the chicken cook for 25-30 minutes for drumsticks (depending on the cuts you use) or until the chicken is cooked through
  • Remove the chicken pieces from the sauce. Continue to cook the sauce over medium-low heat to evaporate water and to thicken the sauce slightly. Have a taste and adjust to your preference

Cooking with Instant Pot pressure cooker:

  • Heat saute and when it says "hot". Add oil. Add the ground paste and stir fry until aromatic, about 8-10 minutes. Add the tamarind paste followed by the seasonings. Stir to combine. Deglaze the pot by pouring about 200 ml of chicken broth. Scrape the bottom of the pan really well to make sure nothing stuck at the bottom. We do this so it won't trigger a "burn" alert. Turn off the saute mode
  • Add the chicken pieces and cover with the lid. Turn the pressure release valve to "sealing". Set the timer to 8 minutes for bone-in drumsticks and chicken thighs. If you use a leg quarter, set the timer to 12 minutes. If you use chicken wings, set the timer to 5 minutes. Then let the pressure release naturally. When the valve collapse, you can unlock the lid
  • Remove the chicken pieces from the pot. Stir in the coconut cream and press saute mode to let it cook until the sauce reduces slightly. Have a taste and adjust to your preference

To grill the chicken in air-fryer:

  • Oil the base of your air-fryer basket with some oil. Arrange the chicken pieces on the basket in one layer. You will need to cook in batches. Baste the chicken using a pastry brush, with the sauce. If there's a grill function, you can use that. It's 375 F until the chicken is slightly charred at some spots

To grill the chicken with a pan on the stove:

  • Preheat the pan over medium-high heat. Add a bit of oil, about 1 Tbsp. Add the chicken pieces and baste with the sauce as needed. Cook until you get some chars at certain spots

To broil the chicken in the oven:

  • Turn on the broil function on your oven. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Baste the chicken with the sauce. Put the baking sheet inside the oven and let it broil on low until you get some nice chars on certain spots

To serve:

  • Serve with some rice and the drizzle some of the sauce on the ayam percik or serve the sauce on the side

RECOMMEDED TOOLS

Dutch Oven
Instant Pot

*Nutrition facts are just estimates and calculated using online tools*

Nutrition Facts
Easy Delicious Ayam Percik (Malaysian Spicy Grilled Chicken)
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
640
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
54
g
83
%
Saturated Fat
 
35
g
219
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
10
g
Cholesterol
 
103
mg
34
%
Sodium
 
1213
mg
53
%
Potassium
 
816
mg
23
%
Carbohydrates
 
19
g
6
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
25
g
50
%
Vitamin A
 
65
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
12
mg
15
%
Calcium
 
55
mg
6
%
Iron
 
5
mg
28
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I'd love to see your photos/videos on Instagram
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