Monday 27 May 2013

Queenie's Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chicken with Tomato Salsa


My new found friend, Queenie, has a very nice chicken recipe which I have been wanting to try. But you know me, the only time I can roll around in the kitchen is during the weekends. And being a chicken lover (I choose chicken anytime over seafood) I always welcome new recipes using my favourite meat.


By the way, if you understand Bahasa Malaysia, do head over to Queenie's. This girl is hilarious with a capital H. She has lots of stories to tell and wise words to share. When I read her posts, more often than not, I will be giggling discreetly (if I'm in the office) or laughing out loud (at home).


I got to know Queenie from the comment she left at Sonia's post. If you want a good laugh, the rolling on the floor kind, please go here or a very sad story here (this one made me cry). In spite of her vocation as a caterer, Queenie is very generous in sharing her recipes. And although she has a heavy schedule of cooking for her clients and her family and all the other work a mother has to do, she still finds time to update her blog regularly. I don't know where her energy comes from and when I think of Queenie, I think of the Energizer bunny. Way to go sis!


Last Saturday, I finally tried this Ayam Bakar Manis Ala Q. I marinated the chicken the day before and did my own estimates of the spices used. It is basically an aromatic dry spice mix. Queenie uses dark brown sugar but since I ran out of that, I substituted with honey instead. As usual, I put the chicken and the marinade in a freezer bag and let it sit in the fridge overnight.

It would be better to rub the marinade with the chicken first before putting in the bag. I just dumped everything in and massaged the bag to evenly coat the chicken.

The next day, I took the chicken out and let it come to room temperature before roasting it. 


As the chicken was roasting, my kitchen was filled with a very exotic aroma. Sort of reminded me of Kuzi Ayam and I couldn't wait to have lunch. As it was, I was very hungry. I think it was due to carbohydrate hunger :) I was thinking of what salad I could do to pair with this chicken and tomato salsa came to mind.


Since salsa also contains cumin and coriander, it would complement the flavors of the roasted chicken. When the chicken was done, obviously I couldn't dig in right away because I had to take photos. Do you find it a hassle to photoshoot your food? Sometimes, I do find it a hassle. Setting up and arranging the platter and props and then adjusting the angles take up time. And the most frustrating part is when there is inadequate lighting. I am still getting the hang of photography.


After calling it a wrap, I sat down and eagerly tasted the chicken. Yummeh!!! It was delicious, with very Middle Eastern undertones. All the ingredients in the marinade came together beautifully and the tomato salsa made an excellent pairing with this dish. I am really loving my low carbohydrate  diet and I am reproducing Queenie's recipe below together with the Tomato Salsa recipe from the book Eat Well Stay Well.










Queenie's Sweet and Spicy Roasted Chicken
Recipe source : Adapted from Queenie

Ingredients :
- 3 chicken legs, thigh and drumstick separated.

Marinade :
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder (serbuk ketumbar)
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder (serbuk jintan putin)
- 1 tablespoon fennel powder (serbuk jintan manis)
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder (or chilli flakes or black pepper)
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cloves garlic, pounded
- 1/2 inch ginger, pounded
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- juice from 1 lime

Method :
1. Mix all the marinade ingredients together. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
2. Add chicken to the marinade and coat well.
3. Marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
4. Take marinated chicken out from the fridge and bring to room temperature.
5. Preheat oven to 180C.
6. Place chicken pieces on a lined baking tray. For the thighs, place it skin side down.
7. Roast for 30 minutes. At 20 minutes, turn the chicken pieces and continue to roast until chicken is cooked and browned.











Tomato Salsa
Recipe source : Reader's Digest Eat Well Stay Well (page 111)
(Note : I didn't follow the recipe exactly in terms of amount but used it as a guide)

Ingredients :
- 500g ripe tomatoes
- 4 spring onions, sliced finely
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1 small chilli, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- Salt and sugar to taste (this was not in the recipe)

Method :
1. Cut tomatoes in half and remove the seeds.
2. Dice the flesh and place in a medium bowl along with the spring onions, fresh coriander, mint, chilli, ground coriander, cumin and lime juice.
3. Season with salt and sugar to taste.
4. Stir to combine and then stand for 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

I love the flavors of the salsa.

This chicken is delish! Will be on my regular roasting menu.

63 comments:

  1. Hi Phong Hong
    I really got to try this out soon. Nampak sungguh sedap!

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    Replies
    1. Mel, do try it! Very fragrant and very sedap :)

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  2. Hello my dearest sis PH...terharunya jiwa I pagi ni...thanks for the mention, can feel you seorang yang ikhlas dalam memuji...(lap airmata kejap)..

    tengok you punya hasil masakan ni, memang boleh lawan tauke keh3...you know PH, perkara yg paling menggembirakan I ialah bila orang cuba resepi kita dan berjaya, betoi tak? hari ni I ada free time sikit tapi tu la, dah biasa berhempas pulas, bila cuti sikit, badan jadi sakit2...nak kena minum air battery eveready lebih lagi nih hihihi...

    I suka wanita bekerja yg rajin macam you, idea pun mewah...dan gandingan salsa ngan ayam bakar ni memang mantop la..tu yg I cakap you boleh lawan tauke..heh heh heh...

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    Replies
    1. Hi sis Q! This ayam bakar manis ala Q sangat sedap! Cara penyediaan pun mudah. Terima kasih banyak-banyak kerana sudi kongsi resipi macam ni. Eh, takder lawan tauke lah..itu menunjukkan you pandai mengajar anak murid. Ikut jer cara you masak terus menjadi, kan? Ada banyak lagi resipi Q yang PH nak cuba :)

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  3. Hi Phong Hong, I know Queeenie has a lot of wonderful recipes with useful tips. Thanks for picking this one to share with us. I believe this must be really good and looks quite hassle free [I mean using all the flavourful powdered spices]. Must try and I love the tomato salsa.

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    1. Kimmy, this recipe is really easy to follow. Just mix the ingredients and let it marinade and the result is very satisfying. I hope that you try it.

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  4. Love love love that chicken... yummy flavors Phong

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    1. Vimitha, this chicken dish is indeed full of flavours. I am sure you will love it!

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  5. the chicken looks perfect but I must try this tomato salad someday!
    Blog about life and travelling
    Blog about cooking

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    Replies
    1. Ola, do try it because it is very good!

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  6. Mmm..... I'm gonna like this for my dinner!

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    Replies
    1. Cheah, try it one of these days. It is simple and good!

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  7. Oh wow, everytime I come here my mouth will water!! This looks amazing!

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    1. Thanks, Mich! I think you will love this chicken dish :)

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  8. Wow, mouth-watering meal! Looks delicious! I can already smell the fragrance of the rempah! Drooling....!!

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    Replies
    1. Joyce, you must try it! It is a very hassle free dish, the sort that is ideal for those busy days.

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  9. Like Mel said, nampak pun sedap! Lots of spices must be very nice...I want to try this

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    Replies
    1. Li Shuan, the smell alone will make you hungry! Must try because it is very sedap :)

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  10. Whenever I'm at a Malay store, I either go for Ayam Penyet or Bakar. Certainly would love trying my hands on this one day :)

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    Replies
    1. Shirley, you must try it. Full of exotic flavours and fragrance!

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  11. It looks yummy and the ingredients combination will sure make the chicken very tasty must try .Chicken is my favourite so is your's

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  12. Hi Phong Hong,

    Thanks for your recommendation (both Queenie's blog and these delicious roasted chicken)!

    I have visited Queenie's blog and sad that I can't really understand much of the Malay language but I must admit her cooking is really good! Hope that Google translate can help.

    Zoe

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    Replies
    1. Zoe, I have tried Google translate on Chinese and Italian blogs and the translation doesn't help much at times. Especially if the original language uses colloquial expressions it tends to come off funny. Anyway, I will be sharing Queenie's recipes from time to time.

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  13. Your chicken looks amazing! So flavorful and browned to perfection. The salsa is just as tempting. I'm glad you'll be sharing more of Queenie's recipes with us!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lizzy! By sharing Q's recipes, my friends who don't understand the Malay language can get her recipes through me. Community service hah! hah!

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    2. pssst PH, eh aiyaaa...so thank you huh? no service charge yea! LOL!
      pahala 80-20, no worries, you take the 80, I'll take the 20...kih3

      ok gimme 5 dear, PLOP!

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    3. Hee...hee...Q, tak lama lagi omputih pun masak asparagus ngan belacan!

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  14. Phong Hong, your masakan sedapnya!!!! Must bookmark this great recipe :)

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  15. It's almost midnight and I am looking at your delicious chicken! Yummy!

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    Replies
    1. Jeannie, I am already asleep at that hour. Hah! Hah!

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  16. Phong Hong, I love your adaptation of this amazing, and spicy recipe from your frined Quenie! I did visit her blog...only sad to say I don't understand one work, and she doesn't have the Translate option.

    Love, your version of this totally drooworthy and yummy chicken, and it is great to pair it with the tomato salsa, which I make very similar to yours. I will certainly want to try this recipe for the chicken real soon...thanks for sharing! Hugs,

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    1. Hi Elisabeth! The Google translator is not of much help, at least that's what I think. Anyway, I hope you try the chicken if you like Middle Eastern flavours. And thank you for your compliments my friend!

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  17. Yummmm!!!! I like! Reminds me of ayam percik...and that, I like too! Hmmm...what is there that I don't like? Hehehehehe!!!!

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    Replies
    1. It is very yum! A lot easier than making ayam percik. Try it sometime :)

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  18. Good morning ph!!!!!!!rindunya.kebetulan sedang cari recipi ayam panggang nk masak jap lg.Nampak sungguh menyelerakan sekali ayam ph ni .Boleh lah cm ambik resipinya.Di sini pun ayam pilihan utama.Hari hari ayam pun ok.tk pernah jemu;)

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    1. Silakan CM! Resipi ni mudah, tak banyak karenah tapi hasilnya amat memuaskan. PH makan sampai menjilat jari hee..hee...

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  19. good morning! this is mouthwatering..sure you tambah and tambah nasi banyak banyak! btw, i also dont know queenie has got su much energy to cook and blog at the same time..hehe..btw, on the coffee enema, i was on it for one week many many years ago and during that one week, i lost for about 2-3 kgs. During that one week, i was also on non solid food diet, just veggies, tofu and corn.

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    1. Lena, I just ate the chicken with salsq. No nasi for me! (so sad). Oh, you also did the detox. Only one time? Hee..hee..

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  20. PH, I love chicken too! gonna bookmark this recipe. too bad I dun understand bahasa, what is miss :(

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    1. Jess, this recipe I like a lot because it is hassle free but so delicious!

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  21. nampak sgt menyelerakan la PH... dah lama juga I tak bakar ayam.. nak try resepi Q ni lah..

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    Replies
    1. MaDiHaA mesti cuba resipi ni. Sedap tau!

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  22. Kak Phong Hong,
    Adui!! sedap betoi Ayam Bakar Manis Ala Q dari kak ni!!!

    I am drooling looking at the yummeh!! chicken. I can see it is easy to prepare too.
    Bookmark this. Thanks for sharing another wonderful blogger (Queenie's blog).
    Will drop by her :)
    mui

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    1. Adek mui mui! Mesti cuba ini ayam. Best!

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  23. Love this chicken
    http://www.followfoodiee.com/

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  24. Wow, this recipe is making my mouth water. I too love chicken, though it's not my favorite. This is such a great recipe. Thanks for sharing and I'll be stopping by your friends blog.:)

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    1. Hi Nancy! This dish is really good and I am sure you will love it too :)

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  25. Quite a while did not stop by her blog, after this going to visit her. This ayam with all spices and marinate for so long sure sangat Bagus !

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    Replies
    1. Sonia, try lah. Sedap sampai menjilat jari!

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  26. Both the roasted chicken and salsa look delicious! I wish it's my dinner ;).

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  27. Hi Phong Hong...

    I cukup lemahlah tengok ayam goreng macam ni. Lepas tu you hidang sekali dengan that salsa. Macam boleh rasa masin masin masam semua... hish.... lagi lama I tenung you punya gambar ayam, I bukan makan ayam, tapi I makan hati!!! Hahahaha

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    1. MamaFami, ini resipi kira meletop jugak lah. Sedap tau! Makan dengan salsa memang best. Cuba lah!

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  28. Hi Phong Hong, very inviting chicken dish and finger licking good. No need eat rice, eat 4 pieces of drumstick kow tim. LOL

    Have a nice weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Amelia, I enjoyed it very much without rice. But of course with rice lagi syiok!

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  29. Replies
    1. Heh..heh...sure rugi because everyday sendiri makan.

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  30. Its really great blog for food looking attractive.

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