Ayam Betutu – Rich and Delicious Balinese Food

This dish consists of chicken that is cleaned and soaked in a mixture of spices for several hours, so that the seasoning seeps into the chicken meat. The marinade seasoning for ayam betutu consists of a mixture of traditional Balinese spices, such as turmeric, garlic, shallots, ginger, chili, and other spices. Some ayam betutu recipes even use more specific ingredients, such as bay leaves, galangal, and lemongrass, to give a unique taste.

The process of making ayam betutu starts with thoroughly cleaning the chicken and cutting it into several pieces. After that, the chicken is dipped into the marinade and soaked for several hours so that the seasoning seeps into the meat. Some ayam betutu recipes also incorporate ingredients such as coconut milk and coconut oil to give tenderness to the chicken meat.

After the chicken is soaked in the marinade, ayam betutu is then wrapped in banana leaves and roasted or grilled on top of a coconut shell. The process of wrapping with banana leaves aims to keep the moisture of the chicken meat during cooking and give a unique aroma to the dish. The process of roasting ayam betutu using a coconut shell not only gives a unique flavor but also adds an attractive appearance to the dish.

As time goes by, the way of making ayam betutu has also developed. Currently, there are many variations of ayam betutu that add new ingredients such as cheese, butter, or sea salt. Some restaurants even add unusual ingredients such as guava or durian. However, although the way of making ayam betutu is different, the typical spice flavor remains the hallmark of this dish.

Ayam betutu is usually served with white rice and other side dishes, such as lawar, sautéed vegetables, or sate lilit. Some places even offer ayam betutu with typical Balinese sambal, namely sambal matah, which is made from shallots, chili, lemongrass, and lime juice.