Nasi Ayam
Malaysian Chicken Rice
A beloved Malaysian comfort food, Nasi Ayam is a Hainanese-influenced dish featuring succulent poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth and fat, accompanied by a trio of flavorful sauces. This recipe focuses on the classic poached chicken method.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1.5 kg Whole chicken(A good quality, fresh chicken is recommended. Ensure it's cleaned and any giblets removed.)
- 400 g Jasmine rice(About 2 cups. Rinse the rice thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear.)
- 50 g Ginger(About a 2-inch piece. Peel and slice half for poaching, mince the other half for sauce.)
- 8 cloves Garlic(Peeled. Smash half for poaching, mince the other half for sauce.)
- 2 tbsp Sesame oil(Toasted sesame oil for added aroma.)
- 2 tsp Salt(For seasoning the chicken and rice.)
- 1.5 L Water(Approximately, for poaching the chicken. Enough to submerge the chicken.)
- 3 stalks Scallions(Cut into large pieces for poaching.)
- 5-7 pieces Chilies(Red chilies (like bird's eye or Fresno), adjust to spice preference. For the chili sauce.)
- 2 tbsp Lime juice(Freshly squeezed, for the chili sauce.)
- 1 tsp Sugar(For balancing the chili sauce.)
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce(For the ginger-garlic sauce.)
- 1 cup Chicken broth(Reserved from poaching, for the rice.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the poaching liquid. In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine water (enough to submerge the chicken), sliced ginger, smashed garlic cloves, and scallion pieces. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 2
Poach the chicken. Carefully lower the whole chicken into the simmering water. Ensure it is fully submerged. If not, add more hot water. Bring the water back to a bare simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and poach gently for 45-60 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) registers 74°C (165°F). The water should never be at a rolling boil, just a gentle tremble.
⏱️ 45-60 minutes - 3
Cool the chicken. Once cooked, immediately transfer the chicken to an ice bath or rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process and firm up the skin. This helps achieve a tender, silky texture. Let it drain and cool slightly.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 4
Prepare the rice. While the chicken is cooling, drain the rinsed jasmine rice. Reserve about 2-3 tablespoons of the rendered chicken fat from the poaching pot (or use oil if preferred). In a rice cooker or pot, combine the drained rice with the reserved chicken fat (or oil), 1 teaspoon of salt, and approximately 1.5 cups of the flavorful chicken broth (use the same ratio as you normally would for cooking rice, usually 1:1.25 rice to liquid). Stir to combine.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 5
Cook the rice. Cook the rice according to your rice cooker's instructions, or on the stovetop over medium-low heat, covered, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender and fluffy. Fluff with a fork before serving.
⏱️ 20-25 minutes - 6
Make the sauces. \n- Chili Sauce: Blend or finely mince the fresh chilies with minced garlic, lime juice, sugar, and 1-2 tablespoons of the poaching liquid or chicken broth. Adjust seasoning to taste.\n- Ginger-Garlic Sauce: Finely mince the remaining ginger and garlic. Mix with 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of chicken broth. \n- Soy Sauce Dressing (Optional but recommended): Drizzle the chicken with a bit of soy sauce and sesame oil.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 7
Carve and serve. Chop the cooled chicken into serving pieces. Arrange the chicken pieces on a platter alongside the fragrant rice. Serve with the prepared chili sauce and ginger-garlic sauce, and optional garnishes like cucumber slices or cilantro.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For silky chicken, ensure the poaching liquid is never at a rolling boil, just a gentle simmer. Shocking the chicken in cold water after poaching is key.
- ✓The fragrant, oily rice is achieved by cooking it in rendered chicken fat and flavorful chicken broth. Don't skip this step!
- ✓The 'three sauces' (chili, ginger-garlic, and sometimes a sweet soy sauce) are essential for the authentic Nasi Ayam experience. Prepare them while the chicken poaches.
- ✓The poaching liquid is incredibly flavorful and can be strained and used as a delicious chicken broth for other dishes or served as soup alongside the Nasi Ayam.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Roast chicken version: Instead of poaching, rub the chicken with oil, salt, and spices and roast until golden brown and cooked through.
- Steamed chicken: Steam the chicken over aromatics for a different texture.
- Add a side of blanched greens like bok choy or gai lan for a more complete meal.