Nasi Goreng - Indonesian Fried Rice
This is not a Thai recipe, but I will publish it here until I can write up enough of my Indonesian recipes to
make a whole category.
This is the classic Indonesian
fried rice dish that can be a meal in itself or can be
part of a rijsttafel meal. Be sure that the rice you
use here is pre-cooked and cooled to room
temperature or even better, chilled slightly. Warm
rice will become soggy when it is used in a fried
rice recipe like this. Rice left in refrigerator
overnight is best.
The Indonesian sweet soy sauce Kecap
Manis is very popular in Indonesia and ABC brand
is made there (see photo). It is soy sauce
sweetened with palm sugar. You can buy it online
and in good Asian grocery stores or you can
substitute sweet, dark or black soy sauce. Or you can substitute regular soy sauce sweetened yourself with
palm sugar or molasses. I usually have this on my shelf because I use it in my Thai Basil
Chicken recipe.
Ingredients:
3 large eggs, beaten
3-4 cups cooked rice, cooled
3-5 tablespoons vegetable oil for stir frying (I use peanut oil)
1 pound combination of boneless skinless chicken breast and vegetables
such as carrot, broccoli, red or green bell pepper, etc. Make up
the combination that you prefer. Cabbage is a common veggie
to add to this dish.
3-4 tablespoons Kecap Manis (see photo)
2 scallions (green onions) cut into ¼ inch sections
3-4 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and chopped fine
4-5 shallots (may substitute ½ an onion) peeled and chopped fine
1-2 small bird peppers or other hot chilies or chili powder to taste
1 each cucumber and tomato for garnish (optional)
If you are using any chicken, cut it into nearly bite sized pieces and reserve aside. Cut the
vegetables also into bite sized pieces and shred the cabbage if you are using it.
Use just about 1 tablespoon of the oil and heat it in a sturdy wok or large skillet. Add the
eggs and heat them through so that they set completely into a flat omelet shape. Remove and
set aside, perhaps covering the omelet so it stays warm. This will be used last, as a garnish.
Heat the remaining oil well and stir fry the garlic and the onion until the garlic just starts to
turn fragrant and brown and then add the chicken. Add the cabbage now if you are using it. Stir
fry the chicken until all the pink is gone and then for half a minute or so longer.
Add the vegetables and stir fry them until they are done the way you like them. I cook mine
less so that they remain crispy.
Add the Kecap Manis and the rice and stir fry everything until heated through and then place
in a serving dish.
Cut all of the omelet into strips that are about one inch long and ¼ inch wide and sprinkle these strips
along with the chopped scallions on top of the rice. You can also slice a cucumber and tomato into thin slices,
then cut each slice in half and surround the serving dish with these half moon shapes for a real finishing touch!