DISH RESEARCH · Main dish
Ayam Buah Keluak
Chicken and filled buah-keluak shells in aromatic tamarind gravy.
About Ayam Buah Keluak
Azlin Bloor presents ayam buah keluak as a traditional Nyonya dish associated with Malacca. Her stuffed-shell version combines prepared buah keluak with a prawn-and-chicken filling alongside chicken portions.
Lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, candlenuts and belacan give the rempah its aromatic character. Tamarind contributes a gentle sourness, while the buah keluak adds the earthy, bitter notes described by the author.
The filled dark shells sit among the chicken in a rich gravy. White rice and sambal belacan accompany the dish, with vegetable sides among the additional serving suggestions.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Crustaceans.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Ayam Buah Keluak
Azlin Bloor’s Malacca Nyonya ayam buah keluak with stuffed shells.
- Traditionally processed buah keluak, shells and seed fleshBase · Stuffed shells
- PrawnsProtein · Shell filling
- Chicken meatProtein · Shell filling
- SaltSeasoning
- White sugarSweetener
- Lime juiceSeasoning · Shell filling
- Cornflour (cornstarch)Binder · Shell filling
- Brown onionAromatic · Rempah
- CandlenutsBase · Rempah
- GalangalAromatic · Rempah
- LemongrassAromatic
- Mild long red chilliesSeasoning · Rempah
- Belacan shrimp pasteSeasoning · Rempah
- Fresh turmericAromatic · Rempah
- Chicken drumsticks and boneless thighsProtein · Gravy
- Ground turmericSeasoning · Chicken rub
- Vegetable oilCooking medium
- Tamarind pulpSeasoning · Gravy
- WaterLiquid
- Makrut lime leavesAromatic · Gravy · Optional
- White riceAccompaniment · Serving
- Sambal belacanAccompaniment · ServingIngredient page not linked
- Beansprout stir-fryAccompaniment · Serving · OptionalIngredient page not linked
- Kerabu timun cucumber saladAccompaniment · Serving · OptionalIngredient page not linked
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Traditionally processed buah keluak, shells and seed flesh: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Source describes ash-processed purchased seeds81–84, not raw untreated seeds. Exact supplier/process verification unknown; shells are vessels, not asserted edible.
- Prawns: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Crustaceans source-confirmed
- Chicken meat: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual chicken filling branch, not pork or seed-only alternative.
- Salt: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit filling, chicken rub and final adjustment; source allocations not reconciled.
- White sugar: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Both filling and gravy allocations consolidated.
- Lime juice: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Cornflour (cornstarch): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Brown onion: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Selected stated white/brown onion option146; broader onion link, not red onion/shallot variant.
- Candlenuts: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual candlenut retained; no macadamia/cashew substitution or automatic Tree nuts label.
- Galangal: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Lemongrass: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Both sliced rempah and separate bruised cooking stalks retained.
- Mild long red chillies: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader red-chilli link; exact source mild long cultivar unknown.
- Belacan shrimp paste: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Crustaceans source-confirmed
- Fresh turmeric: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Selected explicitly traditional fresh rempah option158, rather than author’s convenience powder; no fresh quantity invented.
- Chicken drumsticks and boneless thighs: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Author’s explicit mixed on/off-bone portion form134; separate from minced filling chicken.
- Ground turmeric: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit separate marinade113/249/267, broader turmeric link; fresh rempah choice does not rewrite this rub.
- Vegetable oil: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Tamarind pulp: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Actual pulp/extraction branch, not shop-bought paste or vinegar substitute.
- Water: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit seed soaking/rinsing263 and tamarind extraction plus gravy256; contact water not asserted retained. No paste-blending water invented143.
- Makrut lime leaves (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit optional leaf171/257; both cooking/final leaf allocations one identity.
- White rice: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit preferred service175; cooked rice, exact preparation not given.
- Sambal belacan: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Crustaceans source-confirmed. Source175 calls it a must; named compound only, full formula uninspected.
- Beansprout stir-fry (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Pictured author pairing177, full formula uninspected.
- Kerabu timun cucumber salad (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Selected source179 side suggestion over kangkung alternative; full formula uninspected.
Origins & food traditions
Cuisines & regions
- Malacca Nyonya Cuisine
- Peranakan CuisineCatalogue link pending review
- Peranakan (Nyonya) CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.