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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Ayam percik with rice

Ayam percik is a Malaysian dish of grilled chicken thighs brushed with a coconut milk sauce flavored with lemongrass, ginger, and chili, served with white rice. For 4 people, it takes 50 minutes, stays easy to make, and costs about €3.00 per person. The key is brushing the chicken with sauce several times during cooking so the skin gets a nice glaze.

Grilled chicken brushed with a spicy coconut and lemongrass sauce, that's ayam percik from Malaysia, served with good white rice.

Ayam percik with rice
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.00
Calories per person
500 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Ayam percik plays on a simple contrast, the chicken skin caramelizes in the oven while the coconut sauce stays smooth and fragrant. Lemongrass and ginger bring a freshness that balances the chili, without ever making the dish too hot. It's grilled chicken with a real sense of somewhere else, built from ingredients you can actually find.

This is a good pick for a weeknight dinner when you want to put in a bit more effort, or for a Sunday meal when you feel like trying something different without spending hours on it. Kids get the comfort of grilled chicken and white rice, while adults enjoy the kick in the sauce. Mon Chou makes this an easy way to surprise everyone without much fuss.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken thighs 8

Pantry

  • Coconut milk 20 cl
  • Basmati riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shallots 3
  • Garlic 4 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 20 g
  • Lemongrass 2
  • Fresh red chilies 2

The step by step recipe

  1. Blend shallots, garlic, ginger, chilies, and chopped lemongrass into a paste. Cook it in the oil. 6 min

    Cook until it smells strong, the sauce won't taste raw.

  2. Add the coconut milk, turmeric, sugar, and salt, and let it thicken slowly. 10 min

    Stir often, coconut milk catches quickly.

  3. Score the chicken thighs, brush them with a third of the sauce, and bake at 210°C. 30 min

    The scores let the sauce soak in all the way to the bone.

  4. Cook the rice in salted water while the chicken bakes. 12 min

    A piece of lemongrass in the cooking water flavors the rice.

  5. Coat the chicken with the rest of the hot sauce at the end of cooking and serve with the rice.

    Broil the chicken for 2 minutes to caramelize the sugar in the sauce.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick chicken thighs with the skin on, that's what catches and caramelizes the sauce in the oven.
  • Taste the shallot and chili paste before adding it to the coconut milk, and adjust the chili to your taste.
  • If you have time, make the sauce the day before, the flavors blend even better after a night in the fridge.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thigh fillets, they cook faster and more evenly.
  • For a vegetarian version, brush the same sauce over eggplant slices or firm tofu and roast them in the oven.
  • For kids, leave the chilies out of the paste and serve the spicy sauce on the side for the adults.

What to serve it with

  • White or jasmine rice
  • Fresh sliced cucumber
  • Iced lemongrass tea

Storage

The chicken keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once cooked, sauce included. Reheat it gently in the oven or a skillet so the skin stays nice.

Questions about this dish

Can I use something other than fresh lemongrass?

You can use lemongrass paste or frozen lemongrass, or a bit of lime zest for a similar fresh note. The flavor will be a touch milder but the dish still works well.

Can I make ayam percik ahead of time?

Yes, make the sauce the day before and let the chicken marinate in the fridge for a few hours before baking. This actually deepens the flavor of the chicken.

Can I grill the chicken on a barbecue instead of baking it?

Yes, that's actually the traditional method, cook it over medium heat, turning and brushing with sauce regularly. Watch it closely so the sugar in the sauce doesn't burn.

Is this dish good for kids?

Yes, leaving the chilies out of the paste keeps the sauce flavorful without the heat. You can also serve the spicy sauce on the side for adults.

How long does it take to make an ayam percik, grilled chicken with spicy coconut sauce, served with white rice?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in an ayam percik, grilled chicken with spicy coconut sauce, served with white rice?

About 500 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 percik, grilled chicken with spicy coconut sauce, served with white rice cost?

About €3.00 per serving, or €12.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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