Nasi Goreng is a popular Indonesian dish that translates to "fried rice". Traditionally, it is made with stir-fried cooked rice and chicken or meat with shallots, garlic, shrimp paste, sweet soy sauce etc. I am sharing a Nasi goreng without shrimp paste because it is an optional ingredient. I couldn't find it and didn't want to wait until then to try this delicious fried rice.
Topped with a fried egg and garnished with sliced lemon, cucumber and tomato, Nasi Goreng is usually served as a main course or breakfast dish.
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Ingredients
The one factor that distinguishes Nasi Goreng from other fried rice recipes is the use of Kecap Manis or sweet soy sauce and Terasi or shrimp paste. As I am sharing Nasi goreng recipe without shrimp paste, I cannot skip Kecap manis too! I made sweet soy sauce (Kecap Manis) based on Nagi's recipe.
The rest of the ingredients are easily available or you may already have them!
- kecap manis (make at home with soy sauce and brown sugar): adds a sweet, savoury flavour to the dish.
- boneless chicken breasts
- Produce: garlic cloves, onion, lemon, tomato, cucumber, spring onion (optional)
- chilli flakes
- cooked rice
- fried eggs: served on top of nasi goreng, adding a rich, creamy textflavourd additional protein to the dish.
- crispy fried shallots: Adds a crunchy texture and a sweet onion flavor to the dish.
- cooking oil
- lemon wedges: Squeezing fresh lime juice over the nasi goreng just before serving adds a tangy brightness to the dish.
How to make it?
With a little planning, you can make Nasi goreng easily. If you have store-bought sweet soy sauce and fried shallots then you can make this much quicker.
- I first prepared the white rice the previous day and refrigerated it. It is a good idea to keep the rice chilled and use it cold for stir-frying. This helps the rice hold its shape.
- The next day I started by preparing the sweet soy sauce and then a batch of fried shallots. Again, if you have fried onions or a store-bought pack, use that.
- Prep the chicken and just before lunchtime, put everything together, fried an egg and served a warm bowl of Nasi goreng.
Variations
Nasi goreng can be customized in so many ways, depending on your taste and diet preference. Here are some common variations of nasi goreng that I found on the internet:
- Nasi goreng with chicken or beef
- Nasi goreng with seafood like shrimp or anchovies
- Nasi goreng vegetarian with carrot, green beans and peas
Equipment
- Rice cooker or pot to cook the rice
- a small shallow pan to prepare sweet soy sauce
- a thick-bottomed wok to stir fry Nasi Goreng
- a skillet to fry eggs
Storage
If you have leftover Nasi Goreng, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat the Nasi Goreng, transfer it to a microwave-safe container and microwave on high for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in a wok or frying pan with a little bit of oil over medium heat until steaming hot.
Top tip
Use a day old, chilled rice to prepare any fried rice.
I had this plate of Nasi Goreng in the pictures for my lunch on a weekday and kept aside F's portion for his dinner as he couldn't make it. At dinner time, I re-heated by sauteing the rice on high flame for a couple of minutes and served it to him while I had my bowl of oatmeal. 🙁 He had quite a few questions before taking his first spoon, "What makes it brown?", "Is it sweet rice?" "Does it taste fishy?" "did you add shrimp paste?" I just said EAT, because I wasn't mentally strong to have oatmeal while a bowl of fried rice sits opposite! Just before he wiped clean, he asked me if I want some and I shamelessly scooped a spoonful and said, I like to end with a savoury note. 😀
FAQ
If you need to avoid using shrimp paste, there are several alternatives you can use to add depth of flavour to your nasi goreng: add more soy sauce or miso paste or anchovy paste or dried shrimp or a more recent option - vegan shrimp paste. I have had great tasting Nasi Goreng with just sweet soy sauce.
Nasi goreng is a popular Indonesian fried rice dish that is typically seasoned with a variety of spices and condiments. The specific condiments used may vary depending on the recipe or region, but some common ones include:
- Kecap manis
- Sambal oelek or sambal terasi
- Fried shallots
- Shrimp crackers
Nasi goreng is a fried rice dish that is typically made with leftover rice and Bami goreng, on the other hand, is a fried noodle dish that is made with egg noodles. Both are stir-fried with vegetables, meat or seafood and seasonings.
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📖 Recipe Card
Nasi Goreng | Indonesian Chicken Fried Rice
Ingredients
For homemade Kecap Manis (sweet soy sauce)
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar
For the chicken
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 250 grams boneless chicken, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
For the cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 small onion, diced finely
- 3 to 4 cups cooked rice, (preferably day-old) refrigerated overnight
- 3 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
For topping
- eggs, 1 per person
- fried shallots, crispy fried
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1 cucumber, or lemon slices
- 2 spring onions, optional
Instructions
Prepare Kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)
- Combine the soy sauce and brown sugar in a small deep saucepot over medium heat. Bring to a boil and let the mixture reduce to a consistency that resembles maple syrup or runny honey. It will boil over if the flame is high so maintain a low flame and simmer to a thick consistency. Remember, the mixture will thicken more while it cools. Use as instructed in the recipe.¼ cup soy sauce¼ cup brown sugar
Prepare the chicken
- Heat oil in a thick-bottomed wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, coat the chicken with sweet soy sauce and add to the wok.1 tablespoon cooking oil250 grams boneless chicken1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
- Stir fry the chicken turning them frequently until browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove and keep aside.
Prep the cooked rice
- Heat oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and red chilli flakes and stir until lightly golden.1 tablespoon cooking oil2 to 3 garlic cloves2 teaspoon chilli flakes
- Add the diced onions and cook until translucent.1 small onion
- Add the chilled rice, breaking up any clumps with a spatula or wooden spoon, and stir-fry for a few minutes until heated through. Add the sweet soy sauce and fold in the rice taking care not to overdo and break the grains. Toss until all the rice becomes brown colour as it gets heated through the sweet soy sauce.3 to 4 cups cooked rice3 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
- Stir in the prepared chicken and toss everything one last time. Transfer Nasi Goreng to a serving platter.
- Prepare fried eggs as per your liking.eggs
- Serve the Nasi goreng topped with a fried egg and slices of tomato, lemon or cucumber on the side and sprinkle some fried shallots or green onions. Relish each spoon of sweet and spicy hot rice with a crunch of fried shallots!fried shallots1 tomato1 cucumber2 spring onions
Nutrition Info
The recipe is adapted from Nagi's RecipeTin Eats.
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