Now Reading: Men Who Cook: Prem’s Ayam Masak Merah
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Men Who Cook: Prem’s Ayam Masak Merah
Radio host, DJ, and proud fur dad, Prem swapped the mic for kitchen tools to cook up Ayam Masak Merah, a classic Malaysian dish inspired by his culinary idol.
On-air, he’s the voice that wakes Malaysia. Off-air, Prem is a pickleball enthusiast, proud fur dad, and a man who knows his way around the kitchen. For Men Who Cook, he serves up Ayam Masak Merah, a fiery Malaysian favourite with a gula Melaka twist that deepens its rich, spiced base.
Ingredients for Ayam Masak Merah:
- Chicken, cut small, marinated with turmeric & salt, then half-fried
- Galangal
- Serai (lemongrass)
- Onions
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Red chillies & red hot chilli peppers (soaked in hot water)
- Tomatoes
- Gula Melaka (palm sugar)
Method for Ayam Masak Merah:
Start with a whole chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces, and rub them with a simple mix of salt and turmeric. Give the pieces a quick half-fry, just enough for a golden kiss, then set them aside.
Next comes the heart of the dish: a fragrant aromatic paste of galangal, lemongrass, onions, garlic, ginger, chillies, and ripe tomatoes, blended until smooth. Let it sizzle in the pan until the raw edge softens and the kitchen fills with spice-laden steam.
Add a drizzle of smoky-sweet gula Melaka to darken the sauce to a burnished red. Slide the chicken back in and toss until every morsel gleams with rich, aromatic heat—a glossy, fiery Ayam Masak Merah ready to steal the show.
