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If you read this blog, you will know that I love Malay cooking.
Every time I go back to Malaysia, I never miss out Malay food, especially Malay nasi campur (rice plates) or nasi Melayu, where I get to choose the dishes to go with a plate of steamed white rice.
I always go crazy with the wide selections—rendang, chicken in spicy sauce, sambal sotong, egg sambal, sambal okra, and the list goes on.
Every single dish is so enticing and mouthwatering and I just wanted to eat them all. Sometimes, I would have 5 or 6 dishes on top of the steamed rice.
I love it, because Malay food absolutely rocks in the taste department.
One of the dishes I love is turmeric chicken (ayam goreng kunyit or ayam masak kunyit).
Depending on where you get this dish from, the chicken could be deep fried (hence the word “goreng“) or just simply cooked in a simple stir-fry.
Out of all the dry spices, I am partial to turmeric, or kunyit.
Growing up, we used a lot of turmeric in our kitchen; turmeric adds a beautiful yellow color to the food and lends the exotic nuance and aroma to every dish that we made at home.
This dish is no exception as the turmeric makes the chicken intensely tasty.
The onion, red chili, and French beans add to the texture, presentation, and flavor of the overall dish.
Most people don’t like to deep fry chicken at home, so this is my take on the traditional Malay turmeric chicken, or ayam masak kunyit.
It’s a simple stir-fry dish that anyone can make at home, and takes less than 30 minutes to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is only 292 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Turmeric Chicken
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Turmeric Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 oz (250g) skinless and boneless chicken meat, breast or thigh and cut into strips
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 1 red chili, deseeded and cut into thick strips
- 2 oz (60g) French bean, cut into 2-inch (5cm) strips
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken with turmeric powder and oyster sauce for 15 minutes.
- Heat up a wok and add the oil. Stir-fry the onion until aromatic, then add the chicken and stir quickly a few times.
- Add the red chili and French beans, and stir well to combine with the other ingredients in the wok.
- Add the water to the wok and continue to cook the chicken.
- Add the sugar and salt (to taste), and continue stirring until the chicken is cooked through. Dish out and serve immediately with steamed rice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
