Ayam Masak Kunyit: A simple and delicious Malaysian turmeric chicken stir fry that’s full of flavour and health benefits. Quick, easy, and perfect for any meal.

I’ve made Ayam Masak Kunyit (Ayam Goreng Kunyit) or Turmeric Chicken before, but I received a couple of comments saying this “does not look right…” So I made this proper one. The truth is, my other version (which is the version I prefer to make at home), omits the use of too much oil, and therefore is much, much healthier than the original. And if you know me well enough, you know I will avoid deep frying at home as much as I can! And deep frying with anything turmeric? It’s stain-central!

BUT! I hear you, I hear you. I sacrificed my clean stovetop today to bring you the original Ayam Masak Kunyit – with my own spin. This is a delightful stir fry dish that is vibrant, aromatic, and incredibly tasty, bound to make your taste buds sing. Trust me, once you try this, you’ll be hooked!

What is Ayam Masak Kunyit?

Ayam Masak Kunyit is a Malaysian classic featuring succulent chicken pieces cooked with turmeric and a medley of fragrant spices. This dish is not only visually stunning with its golden hue but also packed with flavor, making it a standout at any meal.

Quick linguistic lesson:

Ayam: Chicken

Masak: Cooked

Kunyit: Turmeric

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: Perfect for busy weeknights.
Family-Friendly: Mild yet flavorful with no spiciness and plenty of colourful veggies – this is a hit with the little ones.
Minimal Ingredients: Keeps well in the fridge for easy meals later in the week. You need very few ingredients for a delicious meal!
Turmeric Benefits: Turmeric, the star ingredient, offers numerous health benefits.

Key Ingredients for Ayam Masak Kunyit

Turmeric

Ground turmeric is essential for giving Ayam Masak Kunyit its signature golden colour and earthy flavour. Turmeric is not only about flavour and colour; it’s a powerhouse of health benefits! It contains curcumin for anti-inflammatory properties and rich in antioxidants. Supposedly regular consumption can boost immunity, aid digestion, and support heart and brain health. TLDR; start adding turmeric to your diet!

And a quick word to the wise: turmeric is super staining, so handle it with care unless you want everything in your kitchen to have a golden glow! Use glass or ceramic bowls to prevent staining, and wear gloves if handling it for a while – unless you like yellow fingers!

If I have only one piece of advice for you, it’s this: don’t be shy with the ground turmeric. I see many recipes being modest with the amount added, but listen, this is Turmeric Chicken after all!

Other Ingredients:

Chicken: Even though this is Ayam Masak Kunyit, you can easily replace the chicken with your protein of choice, such as sliced beef, shrimp, and even firm tofu! For chicken, boneless, skinless thighs or breasts work best and will cook the quickest. The bone-in chicken will work as well, although I recommend overnight marination.
Aromatics: Garlic, ginger, and onions for depth of flavour.
Curry Powder (optional): I do not claim credit for this – I saw this a long time ago on another recipe blog and decided to try it and it was DELICIOUS! So I’ve added curry powder since. It adds a complex layer of flavor BUT totally optional.
Rice Flour (optional): Street stall versions do not do this, but I added just a tinge of rice flour for added crispiness! You are not coating the chicken pieces with rice flour, merely creating ‘crunch’ spots throughout the dish. The textural exchange is SO FUN!
Vegetables: Long beans and carrots for a healthy crunch. You can also use bell peppers, snap peas, baby corn, cauliflower, and broccoli.

Key Steps to Making Ayam Masak Kunyit

1. Marinate the Chicken

In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with ground turmeric, salt, black pepper, curry powder, and rice flour. Mix well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated.
Let it marinate for at least 5 minutes to absorb the flavors or while you prep the other ingredients; overnight marination would be even better!

2. Pan Fry the Chicken

Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken pieces. Pan fry the chicken until it is golden brown and crisp, about 5-7 minutes. Flip halfway through, if needed, for even cooking.
Once cooked and golden brown, remove the chicken from the pan. Spoon out any excess oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. This turmeric-infused oil is liquid gold!
If you used minimal oil, you might not need to remove the chicken.

3. Sauté Aromatics

In the same pan, add the sliced onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant about 2-3 minutes.

NOTE: I used my onion and garlic paste (search ‘aromatic pastes’ in link box) in this step!

4. Stir-Fry Vegetables

Add the long beans and carrots to the pan. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.

5. Combine

Add the fried chicken back into the pan with the vegetables. Stir well to combine and let it cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Season with salt to taste.

6. Serve

Transfer the Ayam Masak Kunyit to a serving dish.
Serve hot over steamed jasmine rice and enjoy!

How to Serve

Serve over steamed jasmine rice for a simple meal.
Pair with a side of fresh cucumber slices to balance the earthy spice, and sambal belacan for addictive heat!

Storing and Reheating Instructions

Storing: This is a stir fry dish that lasts and is great for meal prep! Store Ayam Masak Kunyit in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week.
Reheating: The best way to reheat this is in a pan or wok over high heat until heated through. Alternatively, a quick blitz in the microwave will do the trick as well.

More Recipes Like This