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Ayam Taliwang, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
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Ayam Taliwang

Lombok, West Nusa TenggaraBali & Nusa TenggaraMain Dishes

Lombok's fiery grilled chicken, basted with a paste of chilli, garlic and shrimp paste.

Ayam taliwang takes its name from Karang Taliwang, a neighbourhood of Mataram. A young free-range chicken is half-grilled, pounded lightly so it absorbs the seasoning, then basted with a paste of dried chilli, garlic, shallot, tomato and shrimp paste and grilled again.

It is usually eaten with plecing kangkung — water spinach in a sharp chilli-tomato sambal — and is one of the best-known dishes of the Sasak people.

Cultural context

The signature dish of the Sasak people, carried across Indonesia by Lombok restaurants.

Key ingredients

  • Young chicken
  • Dried chilli
  • Garlic and shallot
  • Shrimp paste
  • Lime

Good to know

  • Grilled twice
  • Served with plecing kangkung
  • From Mataram, Lombok

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