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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Ayam bakar with rice

Ayam bakar is Indonesian chicken marinated in kecap manis then oven grilled, served with rice, sambal, and cucumber. For 4 people, it takes 1 hour, including a 30 minute marinating rest, rated easy and costing €2.80 per person. The key to success is brushing the chicken regularly during cooking so the skin glazes without burning.

Chicken marinated in kecap manis and grilled until it's glazed, that's ayam bakar from Indonesia, served with rice and cucumber.

Ayam bakar with rice
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.80
Calories per person
470 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Ayam bakar comes out of the oven deeply colored, almost caramelized, with that sticky glaze typical of kecap manis. The garlic, shallot, and ginger marinade flavors the meat right down to the bone, while the sambal brings the heat that everyone can adjust on their own plate. Fresh cucumber slices cool things down between bites.

It's a great choice for a weeknight dinner that feels a bit more special than usual, since the oven does most of the work while you cook the rice. Kids generally go for the version without sambal, while adults spice up their own portion on the side. It also works well for guests, since the marinade can be made well ahead of time.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 8

Pantry

  • Kecap manis 5 tbsp
  • Sambal oelek 2 tbsp
  • Basmati riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Ground corianderoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Shallots 3
  • Fresh ginger 20 g
  • Lime 1
  • Cucumber 1

Allergens Soy, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Blend the garlic, shallots, ginger, and coriander. Mix with the kecap manis, lime juice, oil, and salt.

    If you don't have kecap manis, mix soy sauce with brown sugar.

  2. Score the chicken thighs and coat them with the marinade. Let rest. 30 min

    Overnight in the fridge is even better, but 30 minutes works fine.

  3. Bake the thighs in the oven at 200°C, turning and brushing them with marinade. 35 min

    The sugar burns fast, watch closely and cover with foil if the top browns too soon.

  4. Cook the rice in salted water. 12 min

    Drain it well, it will be lighter.

  5. Serve the chicken with rice, sambal, and slices of fresh cucumber.

    Fresh cucumber tames the heat, plan on plenty of it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Score the chicken thighs down to the bone, the marinade penetrates better and the meat cooks more evenly.
  • If the skin browns too fast in the oven, lower the temperature slightly instead of shortening the cooking time, otherwise the chicken stays raw inside.
  • Slice the cucumber just before serving so it stays crisp and fresh against the heat of the sambal.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thighs or drumsticks, adjusting the cooking time since it will be shorter.
  • For a vegetarian version, brush the same marinade on firm tofu or eggplant slices, and reduce the oven time.
  • For kids, serve the chicken plain with rice, no sambal, and offer the chili on the side for adults.

What to serve it with

  • Steamed white or basmati rice
  • Fresh sliced cucumber
  • Iced tea or lemon water

Storage

The chicken keeps for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. It freezes well once cooked, thaw it in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven to keep the skin crisp. Cooked rice keeps separately for 2 days in the refrigerator.

Questions about this dish

Can you substitute kecap manis if you can't find it?

Yes, mix soy sauce with brown sugar to recreate that sweet and salty flavor. The result is close, though kecap manis gives a slightly more syrupy texture.

Can you prepare the marinade ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it the day before and let the chicken marinate overnight in the refrigerator. It's even recommended, the chicken will be more flavorful down to the bone.

Can you grill the chicken instead of using the oven?

Yes, that's actually the traditional method for ayam bakar. Brush it regularly with marinade and watch closely, the sugar in kecap manis burns fast over coals.

Is this dish too spicy for kids?

No, the heat comes only from the sambal served on the side, not from the chicken marinade. Everyone adjusts their own spice level at the table, so kids can eat the chicken plain with rice.

How long does it take to make an ayam bakar, grilled Indonesian chicken glazed with kecap manis, served with rice, sambal, and cucumber?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in an ayam bakar, grilled Indonesian chicken glazed with kecap manis, served with rice, sambal, and cucumber?

About 470 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does an ayam bakar, grilled Indonesian chicken glazed with kecap manis, served with rice, sambal, and cucumber cost?

About €2.80 per serving, or €11.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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