This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.
Belacan Fried Chicken - crispy and juicy Malaysian fried chicken marinated with cilantro and Asian seasonings. So delicious!
Malaysia has some of the best foods that the world has to offer and I am not even biased.
If you have traveled to Malaysia, you would know what I mean.
Foodies all become an instant fan with our food.
Lucky for little G, I take him back to Malaysia every summer and he agrees that Malaysian food is absolutely delicious.
This Malaysian Belacan Fried Chicken is his favorite dish.
His eyes lit up when I told him that I was making him fried chicken for dinner.
Belacan is shrimp paste, which is a key ingredient in Malaysian recipes.
Much like fish sauce to Thai and Vietnamese cuisines, belacan is pungent but it adds amazing flavors and taste structure to our food.
For this recipe, you want to use shrimp sauce in a bottle, and not in a block.
This Malaysian Belacan Fried Chicken is extremely delicious, much like Thai Fried Chicken. It calls for only a handful of ingredients. It pairs beautifully with nasi lemak, the national rice dish in Malaysia.
Give me a choice, I would always go for Asian fried chicken. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is only 312 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Malaysian Belacan Fried Chicken
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
Other Recipes You Might Like
- Thai Fried Chicken
- Japanese Fried Chicken
- Korean Fried Chicken
- Ayam Masak Merah (Chicken in Spicy Tomato Sauce)
Malaysian Belacan Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 small chicken drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon cilantro stems juice
- 1 tablespoon shrimp sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken with water and pat dry with paper towels. Set aside. To prepare the cilantro juice, trim off the bottom 2 inches (5 cm) of the cilantro stems. Using a mortar and pestle, pound the stems to extract the juice, then use your hand to squeeze out any remaining liquid.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the shrimp sauce, sugar, egg white, sesame oil, cilantro juice, corn starch, and flour until smooth. Add the chicken and coat well. Marinate for at least 4 to 6 hours.
- When ready, heat a pot of cooking oil or preheat a deep fryer. Gently drop the chicken into the oil and deep fry until crispy and golden brown, ensuring the inside is fully cooked but remains juicy. Transfer the fried chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Serve the fried chicken immediately with chili sauce on the side.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can i use an air fryer with this recipe rather than deep fry?
You can try!
Hi,
Is it possible to bake in the oven rather than deep fried the chicken ? If yes, please advise temperature and how much time is required to bake in the oven ? Thanks
Not, you need to deep-fry for the best results. I don’t recommend baking.
Hi Rasa Malaysia!
I’m really really excited to found your website full of Malaysian recipe! Balacan chicken is my all time favourite. Exciting to try out it’s authentic Penang flavour recipe! The only problem is I can only find Belacan block from where I live, is it possible and how do I substitute that to the shrimp sauce in this recipe?
You can get Lee Kum Kee brand fine shrimp sauce.
Thanks for replying! No shrimp sauce available from where I live. T-T Might do it next time
it really taste good my kids love ❤❤❤❤it thanks for sharing the recipe???
What is the recipe for the chili sauce that the chicken is served with?
There is no recipe, just a bottled chili sauce.
i like how smooth the batter looks. is there any way i can make it look the same without cilantro juice and shrimp sauce?
The shrimp pasta (belacan) is that makes this Belacan fried chicken. You can skip the cilantro juice.
About how many minutes in the frier?
Really it looks very delicious and crispy. I hope you will share more delicious food for us regularly. Thanks.
I always do share! :)
Can you use an alternate to the actual cilantro stem juice? Knorr has a premade cube and other brands carry cilantro flavoring.
You can skip it. I wouldn’t use curry cilantro flavor.
Looks really Delicious. Makes me want to try!