Spicy Tomato Chicken (Ayam Masak Merah)
Chicken is cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. The sauce is made with chile peppers, spices and herbs.
The dish is flavored with cinnamon, star anise and cardamom. It is simmered in a mixture that includes ketchup and sugar.
By Nadia Kovalenko
Posted October 22, 2026Share
Time
Calories
Servings
Difficulty
Description
Chicken is cooked in a spicy tomato sauce. The sauce is made with chile peppers, spices and herbs.
The dish is flavored with cinnamon, star anise and cardamom. It is simmered in a mixture that includes ketchup and sugar.
Quick Tip Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
Ingredients 17
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
salt to taste
0.25 cup dried red chile peppers
3 fresh red chile pepper, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red onion, chopped
1 (3/4 inch thick) slice fresh ginger root
2 tablespoons sunflower seed oil
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole star anise pods
5 whole cloves
5 cardamom seeds
2 tomatoes, sliced
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste
0.5 cup water
Instructions
-
1
Rub the chicken with 1 teaspoon turmeric and salt to taste. Soak 0.25 cup dried red chile peppers in hot water. Blend softened dried chile, 3 fresh red chile peppers, 4 cloves garlic, 1 red onion and 1 slice fresh ginger to a paste.
-
2
Heat 2 tablespoons sunflower seed oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken, then set aside. Cook the chile paste with 1 cinnamon stick, 2 star anise pods, 5 whole cloves and 5 cardamom seeds until fragrant. Return the chicken to the skillet with 0.5 cup water, 2 sliced tomatoes, 2 tablespoons ketchup and 1 teaspoon white sugar. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
Amount Per Serving
-
Calories 462 kcal
% Daily Value *
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Total Fat 30g
-
Saturated Fat 7g
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Cholesterol 92mg
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Sodium 183mg
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Total Carbohydrate 15g
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Dietary Fiber 3g
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Protein 34g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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