Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi (Malaysian Chicken Curry with Bird’s Eye Chilli)

Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi is a traditional Malay chicken curry that is said to be from the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan. I am not altogether certain of its origin because I see this curry all over Malaysia, as well as in Singapore and Indonesia. Of course, that can also mean that, like any other favourite, it travelled well.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Overhead shot of Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi in a black dish, also called Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api
Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi

Malay Language Lesson Time!

  • Ayam = chicken
  • Masak = to cook, cooked
  • Lemak = cream/creamy. In culinary terms, it refers to the use of coconut milk
  • Cili = chilli or chili pepper in American speak
  • Padi = rice plant (as in paddy field)
  • Api = fire
  • Negeri = country in Malay, but in this instance, it comes from the Minangkabau dialect, nagari, which means villages
  • Sembilan = nine
  • Cili padi (cili api) = bird’s eye chilli (because they are tiny, not quite like rice grains, but small)
  • Ayam Masak Lemak = chicken cooked in coconut curry

So, Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi is Chicken in Coconut Curry with Bird’s Eye Chilli. 

It is also called Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api. Cili Api also refers to bird’s eye chilli.

Just as a point of interest, here is an image of the Royal Mosque of Seri Menanti (Masjid Diraja Tuanku Munawir), full of Moghul infuence. Located in the state’s royal town of Seri Menanti, the mosque is next to the Old Palace and the Royal Mausoleum.

Image of Masjid Diraja Tuanku Munawir
Masjid Diraja Tuanku Munawir

Negeri Sembilan

Negeri Sembilan, as mentioned above, is a Malaysian state. It lies on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia), and is between Kuala Lumpur and Malacca. The state’s name is believed to have come from the old Minangkabau language, referring to the 9 villages that migrants settled in.

The Minangkabaus are a group of people from West Sumatra (Indonesia) and if I remember my South East Asian history, they settled in parts of Malaysia, especially in Negeri Sembilan in the 15th century. This was during the rule of the Malacca Sultanate.

The Malay spoken in Negeri Sembilan

The Malay spoken in Negeri Sembilan, has been greatly influenced by the Minangkabau, and is known as Bahaso Nogori. There are many differences in words, pronunciation and inflection in the Malay spoken all over Malaysia

I was always a little amused whenever my dad (who was Malaysian) would adapt his Malay according to who he was speaking to. It was fascinating. My stepmum is the same.

Close up shot of Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi, also called Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api
Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api

Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi Recipe

So, history and cultural lesson over, back to the recipe. Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi is a fiery Malay coconut chicken curry. In Malay, it would be called Resepi Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi or Resepi Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api. Whatever it’s called, whatever it’s actual origin, suffice it to say, it is delicious!

What does Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi taste like? It’s a chicken curry whose predominant flavour is that of turmeric and coconut milk; turmeric is what gives it the yellow hue. So, it’s creamy from the coconut and a touch musky and earthy from the turmeric. And spicy! Naturally, you can always reduce the heat level, but more of that below.

Powdered and fresh root turmeric
Powdered and fresh root turmeric

How to Cook Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi

The Chicken

Use whatever cuts you like. When I was growing up, we would always get a whole chicken at the market, and get the vendor to cut it all up for us. But I have long preferred a combination of cuts: thighs, drumsticks and breasts, and a mix of on the bone and off. When you are making curries or stews, you have to use chicken on the bone, as the bones lend depth to your sauce/gravy, ready made stock source.

Green and red bird's eye chillies, cili padi, cili api
Cili padi

The Chillies

The name says cili padi or cili api, that means bird’s eye chilli. If you habitually cook with hot chillies, great. If not, just use 2-5 jalapeños, depending on your tolerance. If even that is too spicy, use capsicums (bell peppers), that way, you get the fruity from the chilli, but not the spice.

So, if you like, play around with the number and type of chillies to suit your taste. You can use any type of bird’s eye chilli, if you are sticking with the theme. I’ve grown a few types over the years, like Thai Demon and Piri Piri, and have used both when cooking ayam masak lemak cili padi.

Lavender, Lemongrass and Ginger Spritzer
Bruised Lemongrass

Aromatics

I’ve eaten this Malay curry many times without any aromatics; no lemongrass and no other herbs like Vietnamese coriander (daun kesum) and Kaffir lime leaves.

Lemongrass – Click here to read more. I would think that this is pretty easy to come by these days. Skip it if you can’t get it. We only ever use the bottom half of a lemongrass, where the aroma and flavour is concentrated. In this recipe, we bruise the base of the lemongrass. That means, bang down hard with the back of your knife, see the image above.

And don’t hate me, but I’m using kaffir lime leaves because I have a kaffir lime plant! But I’ve listed it as optional. 

Tamarind

Click here to read more. A very popular souring ingredient, as well as snack in many cuisines, tamarind can easily be substituted with clear vinegar.

Lime juice is also an option, but naturally, it’ll leave its own signature citrusy flavour in our ayam masak lemak cili padi. Lemon juice, to me, doesn’t quite have the rounded flavour of these two.

Kaffir Lime, Limau Purut
Kaffir Lime, Limau Purut

Coconut Milk

Click here to read more on how to cook with coconut milk. Fresh coconut milk is always best but many of us outside of Asia, unfortunately, do not have this luxury. As with any ingredient, get the best that you can afford, the same goes for coconut milk. Get the one that has the least added ingredients – just coconut milk and water is the best.

If you do have access to freshly grated coconut or frozen grated coconut, you want to get your coconut milk in 2-3 pressings. Head on over to the link above to read more.

That’s it, let’s get our aprons on!

More Malaysian Recipes on LinsFood

I started a second blog in Jan 2021. That’s where all the new Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian recipes will be. Click here to get to Singaporean and Malaysian Recipes.

Here are some recipes still on LinsFood:

Nasi Lemak, Coconut Rice from Singapore and Malaysia
Nasi Lemak recipe is rice cooked with coconut milk, from Singapore and Malaysia.
Nasi Lemak, Coconut Rice from Singapore and Malaysia
Ayam Assam Serani (Sour Eurasian Chicken Curry)
Ayam Assam Serani is a sour chicken curry from the Eurasian community in Singapore and Malaysia. A traditional but almost forgotten recipe.
Get the Recipe!
Nasi Ulam
Nasi Ulam recipe, a rice salad from North Malaysia, served with a variety of side dishes like fried chicken, sambal belacan* (local shrimp paste chilli sauce) and fried fish, just to name a few.
Get the Recipe!

If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!

And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood

Lin xx

Images by LinsFoodies

Close up shot of Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi, also called Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api

Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi (Malaysian Chicken Curry with Bird’s Eye Chilli)

Recipe for Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi, a traditional Malay coconut chicken curry that is said to be from the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan.
5 from 51 votes
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Course: Main Course with Rice
Cuisine: Malaysian
Keyword: chicken, chicken curry, curry
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6 to 8
Calories: 434kcal
Author: Azlin Bloor

Ingredients

  • 1 kg chicken portions some on the bone
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 stalk lemongrass
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable or peanut oil
  • ½ tsp white sugar
  • 2 Tbsp tamarind pulp OR 1 Tbsp lime juice OR 1 Tbsp clear vinegar
  • 4 Tbsp water for the tamarind
  • 400 ml canned coconut milk OR equivalent amount from 1 coconut
  • 4 kaffir lime leaves

Ingredients to be ground

  • 1 red onion
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 10 green bird’s eye chillies
  • 5 red bird’s eye chillies
  • 1 inch fresh turmeric OR ½ tsp turmeric powder

Instructions

Prep Work

  • Coat the chicken pieces with 1 tsp ground turmeric and the salt. Set aside while you get all the other ingredients ready.
  • Cut the lemongrass in half, discarding the top half. Using the back of the knife, pound down on the base (bulbous end) of the lemongrass to split it roughly. This is called bruising the lemongrass. Set aside.
  • Make a paste with the tamarind pulp and the 4 Tbsp of water. Mix well with your fingers. Strain through a medium mesh sieve and set aside.
  • Place all the ingredients to be ground in a chopper and chop to a fine paste.

Let's Cook Ayam Masak Cili Padi

  • Heat the oil in a large saucepan or wok on medium-high heat and brown the chicken pieces for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the sugar over the chicken as you add the chicken to the saucepan/wok. You may have to brown the chicken in 2 batches, depending on the size of your pan. In that case, tip the first half onto a plate and do the second batch before going on to step 2. Divide the oil and sugar in 2, as well. You don't really need much oil to brown the chicken.
  • When the chicken has taken on some colour, tip in the ground paste and the lemongrass and fry for 2 minutes, coating the chicken well.
  • Pour in the coconut milk, reserving about 2 Tbsp of the thick cream at the top. Also add the lime leaves, if using. If you are lucky enough to have freshly squeezed coconut milk, add only the second and third pressings, reserving the thick coconut milk to finish off. Stir well and reduce the heat to medium.
  • Bring everything to a gentle boil and then lower the heat down and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until your chicken is cooked.
  • When done, check seasoning and add more salt, if needed. That’s it, dish up with some plain rice and a side vegetable dish.

Nutrition

Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 482mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 518IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 4mg
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14 thoughts on “Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi (Malaysian Chicken Curry with Bird’s Eye Chilli)”

  1. I was on holiday last year in Malaysia and Thailand and absolutely enjoyed the food there. I bought some jars of lemongrass paste. Can I use that, and how wold I use that?

    1. Hi Femke, food from that part of the world is just so amazing, isn’t it? You can certainly use the paste. I would add 1 tsp to the ground ingredients. Let me know how it goes!

  2. Azlin this is just so great. I’m at uni in canada and I love to browse through your recipes when making dinner. I also love to read about your family! Made this last Sunday and everyone loved it, including the Mat Salehs! Do you have the recipe for udang masak lemak, tak?

    1. Thank you, Wati, so glad to be able to help. What would we do without the internet, eh? I was thinking about posting the udang recipe, but with nenas. I’ll send you an email when it’s up.

  3. Gopal Krisnamurthi

    Thank you, Azlin, I really love this recipe. I was born in Malaysia, but don’t speak Malay, so really appreciate Malay recipes written in English. Making soon.

  4. James Adams

    I absolutely love a good curry, specially when it’s spicy. Your dish ticks all boxes, flavourful, filling, comforting. And spicy!

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