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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Malaysian-Style Grilled Lemon Grass Chicken (Ayam Percik)

4 Servings

1¾ hours

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In her kitchen in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, home cook Annie Zainal Abidin taught us her method for making ayam percik, or chicken seasoned with turmeric and lemon grass and finished with a subtly tangy-sweet but rich coconut sauce. We learned there are regional versions of the dish and, to boot, many ways to approach the cooking, including two-step methods such as sear-then-roast or simmer-then-fry. We were fans of Abidin’s simple, straightforward, one-step oven-only technique, so we adapted it for an outdoor grill. Cooking over flames imparts delicious charred, smoky notes to the bone-in chicken parts, which have been smeared with an aromatic paste. We reserve some of that paste for use as the foundation of the sauce that is served with the chicken. For convenience or if you’re not ready to grill after the chicken is seasoned and the sauce is made, the parts can be covered and refrigerated for a few hours, and the sauce can be cooled and refrigerated. Let the chicken stand at room temperature while you prepare the grill so it isn’t cold when it goes onto the grill, and give the sauce a couple extra minutes to rewarm while the chicken rests after cooking. Steamed jasmine rice is an excellent accompaniment.

4

Servings

Tip

Don’t use coconut milk, as it is too lean for this recipe. Make sure to purchase coconut cream, which contains more fat, but don’t mistakenly choose cream of coconut, which is sweetened and used mainly in cocktails.

1¾ hours

Ingredients

  • 2

    guajillo chilies, stemmed, seeded and torn into pieces

  • Boiling water, for soaking the chilies

Directions

Reviews
Sarah L.
October 15, 2025
Amazing!
Absolutely loved this recipe! The sauce is so delicious, I always make double!
Jacqueline H.
August 9, 2024
Spot on perfection!
Easy, just make it.
Diana L.
January 16, 2025
It was ok
I wasn't particularly fond of the sauce, but my son enjoyed it. The main issue with this recipe is the oven baking time for the chicken. I knew that 375°F for 35 minutes wouldn't be sufficient, so I ended up baking it for an additional 15 minutes. I believe that baking at 425°F or 475°F would be more suitable to cook the chicken thighs in 35 minutes.

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