Ayam Balado
Ayam Balado is a fiery Indonesian main course of chicken simmered in a vibrant red chilli paste with shallots, garlic and lemongrass. The Thermomix TM7 grinds the fresh spice paste evenly and cooks the sauce hands-free, so the spicy coating clings to every piece of chicken. A bold, aromatic classic ready with minimal effort.
About this recipe
Ayam Balado Thermomix TM7 brings the bold heat of Indonesian home cooking straight to your kitchen. Searching for an authentic ayam balado recipe that doesn't require hours of pounding chillies by hand? This all-in-one kitchen machine grinds shallots, garlic, bird's eye chillies and lemongrass into a fragrant red paste in seconds, then simmers the chicken gently until the spicy sauce thickens and clings to every bite. The turmeric-rubbed chicken develops a golden hue while the chilli paste mellows into a glossy, aromatic coating — hot, slightly sweet and deeply savoury. Perfect as a quick weeknight dinner served with steamed rice, this TM7 recipe also shines at gatherings where you want something impressive without hovering over the hob. Because the bowl handles the paste and the sauce in one go, washing up stays minimal and the flavours stay consistently intense.
Preparation tips
- Rub the turmeric and salt into the chicken at least half an hour ahead so the golden colour and seasoning penetrate the meat before frying, giving the ayam balado its classic appearance.
- Fry the ground chilli paste patiently until the oil separates and turns red at the edges; this crucial step removes the raw edge from the shallots and bird's eye chillies and deepens the sauce.
- Serve with plain steamed rice and cucumber slices to balance the heat; leftover balado paste keeps well in a sealed jar in the fridge for your next Indonesian meal.
Recipe variations
- Milder family version: replace the bird's eye chillies with red bell peppers and just two fresh chillies, keeping the shallots and lemongrass for an ayam balado the children can enjoy too.
- Festive ayam balado terong: add fried aubergine cubes alongside the chicken, or swap in firm tofu for a meat-free Indonesian feast during Ramadan or family celebrations.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Grinding the bird's eye chillies, shallots and garlic into a smooth sambal paste takes the Thermomix mere seconds instead of lengthy pounding in a mortar.
- Weigh the cooking oil and chicken directly into the mixing bowl, letting the TM7 scale measure each ingredient precisely without extra cups to wash.
- The Thermomix chops the lemongrass stalks finely so their citrus aroma disperses evenly through the red balado sauce.
- Steaming the turmeric-seasoned chicken in the Varoma keeps the meat juicy while the chilli paste cooks beneath, capturing every drop of flavour.
- Heating the sambal slowly, the TM7 prevents the chilli oil from burning and delivers a glossy sauce without constant stirring.
Ingredients
- chicken
- turmeric powder
- salt
- cooking oil
- shallots
- garlic cloves
- fresh red chillies
- fresh green chillies
- bird's eye chillies (chilli padi)
- fresh lemongrass