Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah)
Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah) features tender chicken coated in a rich tomato gravy layered with dried and fresh chiles, aromatic spices, and a hint of sweetness. The sauce is warming and complex with subtle cinnamon, clove, and star anise notes. Serve for a comforting family dinner or festive gatherings alongside steamed rice to soak up every drop.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 55 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 17 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 39
- Heart Health
- 48
- Metabolic
- 38
- Digestive
- 36
- Inflammatory
- 58
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Rub the chicken with turmeric powder and salt, then set aside.
- 2
Soak the dried red chile peppers in hot water until softened.
- 3
Blend the softened dried chile, fresh red chile pepper, garlic, onion, and ginger in a blender into a paste.
- 4
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 5
Brown the chicken in the hot oil until golden on all sides, then remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- 6
Pour off excess oil from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
- 7
Cook and stir the chile paste with the cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and cardamom seeds until fragrant.
- 8
Return the chicken to the skillet.
- 9
Stir in the water, adding more if needed.
- 10
Add the tomatoes, then stir in the ketchup and sugar.
- 11
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes.
- 12
Serve hot.
- Calories 668.28 kcal High 33%
- Protein 96.94 g Good Source 194%
- Carbohydrate 22.46 g 8%
- Total Fat 21.48 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 1.66 g Moderate 8%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 318.05 mg High 106%
- Sodium 1002.0 mg High 44%
- Dietary Fiber 4.98 g Moderate 18%
- Total Sugars 6.18 g --
- Added Sugars 3.92 g Moderate 8%
- Calcium 32.49 mg Low Source 3%
- Iron 1.13 mg Low Source 6%
- Potassium 203.16 mg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin A 21.41 mcg Low Source 2%
- Vitamin C 4.52 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Malaysian Red Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah) is made with 17 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 55 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Caster Sugar, Chili Pepper, Cinnamon Sticks, and Dried Chile Peppers. Each serving provides about 668.28 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah) made of?
- The main ingredients are Caster Sugar, Chili Pepper, Cinnamon Sticks, Dried Chile Peppers, Fresh Ginger. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah)?
- About 55 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 668.28 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah) easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 12 steps.
- Is Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah) healthy?
- Malaysian Red-Cooked Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah) has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 668.28 calories and 96.94 g of protein, or 194% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1002.0 mg (44% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 1.66 g (8% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 3.92 g (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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