Taliwang Grilled Chicken (Ayam Bakar Taliwang)

Taliwang Chicken, Following the development of Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat as a destination of international tourism, you should know its special food that is Taliwang Chicken. It is not said coming from Lombok when the food is not hot or spicy. They said that the recipe of this food came from a “Papuq” (an old woman) named Maknawiyah, a chicken rice seller who came from Kampung Taliwang. Because it was familiar for its delicacy in whole Lombok, the “Papuq” served buyers though she was getting old. Her generation has been continued her business since 1966.

Taliwang chicken has 2 kinds of seasoning. It can be seasoned with “Pelecingan spice” which is combined by chilies or “Pelalah spice” which is fried with terasi. Both of them give unforgettable hot sensation for tongues that taste it. Especially, it only consumes free-range chicken which the firm of flesh gives salty and crispy natural flavor and well-done when it is eaten. Besides, there is a prohibition in cooking process. That is not to using gas stove, but using first rate of firewood such as coffee wood or jackfruit wood. No wonder , that the fragrance is different than other foods. If you are not patient to taste this food anymore, you should try this recipe:

the Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 baby free-range chicken
• 2 tbsp cooking oil, for smearing
• 3 calamondins get the extract
• Salt as necessary

Grinded spice:

• 8 chilies
• 7 onions
• 4 cloves of garlic
• ½ tsp roasted terasi
• 3 tomatoes
• Salt

Directions:

1. Clean chicken, remove the head and foot, and wash cleanly. Crack chicken breast but don’t cut/break it fully, then press it until it is opened. Or it can be cut into 4 parts.
2. Smear chicken with salt and cooking oil.
3. Roast chicken at low ember for 5 minutes while turned, remove it.
4. Heat 3 tsp cooking oil, cook grinded spices in little oil. Remove and add calamondins’ extract.
5. Smear roasted chicken with spice and leave it for 15 minutes. Roast chicken again at ember or oven while smeared with spice and turn it occasionally till it is well-done and brownish.
6. Serve roasted chicken along with the spice.