Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu

印尼峇里香料焗雞 Ayam Betutu

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — finished dish

Total time: 120 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Balinese ayam betutu coats a whole chicken in turmeric, lemongrass and galangal paste, then slow-bakes it in banana leaf.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

1 kg whole chicken
4 leaves banana leaves
3 stalks lemongrass
8 pieces shallots
5 cloves garlic
40 g galangal
30 g ginger

Betutu spice paste

2 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp ground coriander
4 pieces red chillies
2 tsp salt
2 tbsp cooking oil

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — ingredients

02

Tools

cutting board
knife
blender
banana leaves
baking dish

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — tools

03

Steps

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Clean and dry the chicken and score the thickest part of each leg

Step 1

Clean and dry the chicken and score the thickest part of each leg

Clean and dry the chicken and score the thickest part of each leg.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Measure turmeric, ground coriander, salt and oil

Step 2

Measure turmeric, ground coriander, salt and oil

Measure turmeric, ground coriander, salt and oil.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Chop lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, ginger and chillies

Step 3

Chop lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, ginger and chillies

Chop lemongrass, shallots, garlic, galangal, ginger and chillies.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Blend all aromatics to a coarse paste and mix with oil

Step 4

Blend all aromatics to a coarse paste and mix with oil

Blend all aromatics to a coarse paste and mix with oil.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Rub the paste over the chicken, under the skin and inside the cavity

Step 5

Rub the paste over the chicken, under the skin and inside the cavity

Rub the paste over the chicken, under the skin and inside the cavity.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Refrigerate the marinated chicken for at least four hours

Step 6

Refrigerate the marinated chicken for at least four hours

Refrigerate the marinated chicken for at least four hours.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Warm banana leaves until pliable and wrap the chicken tightly

Step 7

Warm banana leaves until pliable and wrap the chicken tightly

Warm banana leaves until pliable and wrap the chicken tightly.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the wrapped chicken in a baking dish

Step 8

Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the wrapped chicken in a baking dish

Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the wrapped chicken in a baking dish.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Cover and bake for 60 minutes so the chicken steams in the leaves

Step 9

Cover and bake for 60 minutes so the chicken steams in the leaves

Cover and bake for 60 minutes so the chicken steams in the leaves.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Open the leaves and bake another 20 to 30 minutes to brown

Step 10

Open the leaves and bake another 20 to 30 minutes to brown

Open the leaves and bake another 20 to 30 minutes to brown.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Check the thickest thigh to confirm the centre is fully cooked

Step 11

Check the thickest thigh to confirm the centre is fully cooked

Check the thickest thigh to confirm the centre is fully cooked.

Indonesian Balinese Ayam Betutu — Rest ten minutes, chop and serve with the spiced juices

Step 12

Rest ten minutes, chop and serve with the spiced juices

Rest ten minutes, chop and serve with the spiced juices.

Common mistakes

Do not skip the doneness check or rush with excessive heat, which can burn the outside while leaving the centre undercooked.

Tips

Measure first and keep raw and cooked utensils separate; debone, reduce chilli and cut smaller for children or older adults.