Have you ever visited Indonesia, such as Bali or other places? For those of you who are planning to go to Indonesia, don’t miss out on trying the fried rice. This dish can be found with both savory and sweet flavors throughout the country. The authentic Nasi Goreng recipe is quite simple, so you can even try making it yourself at home.
If you plan to cook it make sure to check the recipe on how to make nasi goreng simple below!
History of Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice)
Did you know that Nasi Goreng has been around since 4000 BC? Its origin can be traced back to the Chinese, who had a tradition of not eating cold rice and were not allowed to waste leftover food. To make use of the leftover rice, they added spices and stir-fried it.
As many Chinese people migrated overseas, including to Indonesia, they continued this tradition of cooking leftovers or cooked rice. However, they began to use different seasonings in their
fried rice to suit the Indonesian taste, which is rich in authentic spices.
The special seasoning for Indonesian fried rice includes sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), shallots, chilies, garlic, and shrimp paste (terasi). Over time, fried rice has become not only a popular food among the Chinese but also a significant part of Indonesian cuisine.
Terasi is a typical Indonesian seasoning that enhances the flavor and authenticity of fried rice. Adding sweet soy sauce not only makes the fried rice tastier, but also gives it a more appetizing appearance. Therefore, if you want to make an authentic Nasi Goreng recipe, be sure to have sweet soy sauce and shrimp paste on hand.
How to Make Indonesian Fried Rice
If you ever tried Indonesian fried rice before and crave it but can’t find it anywhere, you can try making it yourself at home. Check the steps below:
Ingredients
Spice Paste:
- 50 gr shallot, coarsely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 3 pieces of bird’s eye chili (adjust to taste spiciness)
- 1/2 teaspoon of shrimp paste (terasi)
- 2 tablespoons of kecap manis
- 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper powder
- salt
Rice
- 500 gr or 4 cups cold/old-day rice
Garnish
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 50 g fried shallots
- 4 eggs
- cucumber and tomato, sliced
Instruction
- The first step is to grind the spices using a mortar. Start by adding shallots, garlic, bird’s eye chilies, and shrimp paste.
- Grind using a pestle to get a coarse purée texture. However, if you don’t have a mortar, you can use a food processor.
- To sauté the spices, use a large skillet or a large wok. Pour about 4 tablespoons of cooking oil then heat the wok over high heat.
- When the skillet starts to shimmer and smoke a little, add the ground spices. Next, reduce the heat so that the spices do not burn.
- If the seasoning looks a bit dry and brown, add rice. Stir the rice so that the spices are evenly distributed.
- Next, add the sweet soy sauce, white pepper, and salt. Stir again so that all the flavors are perfectly distributed. Cook for three minutes to allow the flavors to seep into the rice grains.
- Serve fried rice using sunny-side-up eggs, sliced cucumber, and tomatoes. Don’t forget to sprinkle fried onions and sliced green onions.
- Voilà, now you can taste the authentic Nasi Goreng recipe made by yourself!
Tips on How to Make Indonesian Fried Rice
To get the authentic taste of fried rice, you should follow some of the tips below:
1. Rice
To achieve a dry texture for your fried rice that doesn’t stick together, it’s best to use day-old or cold rice. You can use freshly cooked warm rice, but it will absorb more oil and tends to become sticky and lumpy. To avoid this, you can use long-grain rice such as Basmati rice.
2. Wok
Whether you visit a fancy restaurant or a street food stall that sells fried rice, they will usually use a wok to cook it. The concave shape and large size of the wok make it easier to stir the rice without spilling it, especially when you need to distribute the spices quickly.
3. Shrimp Paste
Shrimp paste is an optional seasoning, but it is an essential ingredient for an authentic Nasi Goreng recipe. If you are not a fan of its pungent aroma, you can use it in moderation to get the distinctive Indonesian fried rice flavor.
The proper way to use shrimp paste is to fry it first and then grind it with other spices such as shallots, garlic, and chilies. Knowing how to use shrimp paste can make the taste and aroma of
the dish more satisfying.
4. Kecap Manis
An important element that you shouldn’t skip when making fried rice is sweet soy sauce. It is made from soybean extract and brown sugar so that it produces a deep black color. In addition,
sweet soy sauce also has a thick texture.
Sweet soy sauce is added as a final touch in cooking fried rice. This is because it is easy to caramelize.
Let’s Try the Authentic Nasi Goreng Recipe Right Away!
If you want to give it a try, make sure to follow the Nasi Goreng recipe instructions step by step to ensure its success. The seasoning for making fried rice is quite practical, but if you have trouble obtaining these spices, you can use bumbu instan nasi goreng instead. This instant seasoning is more convenient and guaranteed to taste good. Let’s try it yourself!
FAQ
- How to make fried rice?
To make fried rice, use day-old rice and add seasonings such as shallots, garlic, chilies, and white pepper. - What makes Indonesian fried rice different from other fried rice?
Indonesian fried rice uses kecap manis and shrimp paste as authentic seasonings. - What are the side dishes for eating fried rice?
Authentic Nasi Goreng recipe is usually served with sunny-side-up eggs, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, and crackers. - Any tips for cooking fried rice?
Use the Wok, Grind the spices with a mortar, Add special seasonings, namely shrimp paste and sweet soy sauce