Ayam Betutu (Balinese Spice-Stuffed Roast Chicken)
In short: Whole chicken rubbed and stuffed with a fragrant Balinese spice paste, wrapped in banana leaf and roasted slowly until very tender and juicy. It takes about 2 h 55 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 2 h 15 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 2 h 55 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 450 kcal
Ayam betutu is one of Bali's celebration dishes. A whole chicken is stuffed and coated with base genep, the island's rich spice paste, then wrapped and cooked slowly for hours, traditionally in embers. The flesh becomes so tender it falls from the bone, and the spices turn into a thick, aromatic gravy. This oven version keeps the method but takes about two hours.
Instructions
- Blend the shallots, garlic, chilies, candlenuts, ginger, galangal, turmeric, coriander, pepper and shrimp paste into a smooth paste.
- Fry the paste in the oil over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until fragrant and thick. Stir in the salt and sugar and cool completely.
- Loosen the skin over the chicken breast and thighs. Rub about a third of the paste under the skin and inside the cavity. Stuff the cavity with the lemongrass, 3 lime leaves and the spinach.
- Rub the rest of the paste all over the outside. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Wrap the chicken in the banana leaves with the remaining lime leaves, then seal tightly in foil. Place in a roasting dish.
- Roast for 2 hours. Open the parcel, raise the oven to 220°C (425°F) and roast for 15 minutes more, until the skin colors and the thigh reaches at least 74°C (165°F).
- Rest for 15 minutes. Carve and serve with rice, the spiced juices from the parcel and sambal matah.
Tips
- Banana leaves add a faint tea-like perfume. If you cannot find them, wrap the chicken in baking paper and then foil, and the result will still be juicy and tender.
- The base genep paste freezes well. Double the batch and freeze half for grilled fish, vegetables or a second chicken.
Questions and answers
Can I use chicken pieces instead of a whole bird?
Yes. Coat bone-in thighs and drumsticks in the paste and roast them in a sealed foil parcel at 160°C (325°F) for 1 hour 15 minutes, then uncover for 15 minutes.
Is ayam betutu very spicy?
It is moderately hot. Use only long red chilies for a mild dish, and add the bird's eye chilies if you want the authentic Balinese heat.
Can I make betutu ahead?
Marinate it a day ahead. After roasting it keeps for 3 days in the fridge and tastes even better reheated gently in its juices.
How long does it take to make Ayam Betutu (Balinese Spice-Stuffed Roast Chicken)?
About 2 h 55 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 2 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ayam Betutu (Balinese Spice-Stuffed Roast Chicken)?
About 450 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 32 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 450 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 32 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
