19 May 2020 — Recognized as one of Indonesia's national dishes, nasi goreng is an iconic recipe of Indonesian cuisine. It's also widely enjoyed in Malaysia and Singapore. Translated as 'fried rice,' it's characterized by its sauce made from kecap manis, soy sauce, chili paste, and shrimp paste. Discover the authentic nasi goreng recipe to transport your taste buds!

Ingredients for 4 servings:

- 300 g of rice

- 5 eggs

- 3 onions

- Vegetables: carrots, bok choy, spinach shoots, broccoli, bell peppers…

- 4 tablespoons of kecap manis

- 4 teaspoons of soy sauce

- Vegetable oil

- Salt, pepper

For the spice paste:

- 2 shallots

- 4 cloves of garlic

- Shrimp paste (terasi)

- 2 tablespoons of chili paste (sambal olek)

For serving:

- 2 to 3 tomatoes

- ½ cucumber

- A handful of fried shallots

Preparation time: 30 min

Cooking time: 10 min

Steps to prepare nasi goreng:

Start by cooking the rice in a pressure cooker or in a pot of boiling water. When it's cooked (it should be al dente and firm as it will be fried later), drain it, rinse under cold water, and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Peel, remove the germ, and chop the garlic. Peel and finely slice the onions and shallots. Wash, peel, and thinly slice the vegetables into fine strips or small pieces.

Prepare the spice paste: in a mortar or bowl, mix the shallots, garlic, shrimp paste (terasi), chili, and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper, then pound everything until you reach a fairly smooth consistency. If you prefer and to save time, you can also use a blender.

In a wok over high heat, sauté the onions in oil. When they turn a nice golden color, add the spice paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes while stirring to prevent it from burning. Reduce the heat if needed. Add the vegetables and sauté them for a few minutes. They should remain crisp.

Add the rice while breaking it up, then the kecap manis and soy sauce, and stir-fry everything over high heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir regularly and season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, cook the eggs to prepare 4 fried eggs.

Wash, cut, and slice the tomatoes and cucumber. Shape the rice into balls using a bowl, place them on plates, and set a fried egg on top of each. Sprinkle with fried shallots and serve the nasi goreng with 2 or 3 slices of tomato and cucumber on the side of the plates. For those who'd like it, you can place small bowls of kecap manis, soy sauce, and chili sauce on the table.

Good to know:

For your information, the eggs can be cooked as fried eggs and added during plating, or they can be directly incorporated into the fried rice as scrambled eggs.

While the traditional nasi goreng recipe is almost vegetarian (there is shrimp paste, after all), it also comes in other versions such as nasi goreng ayam (with chicken), nasi goreng sapi (with beef), nasi goreng udang (with shrimp), nasi goreng seafood (with mixed seafood)… While kecap manis sauce is most common, some Indonesians prefer tomato sauce (nasi goreng merah) instead, as is the case in the eastern parts of the Indonésie archipelago in Sulawesi or the Moluccas.

Florine Dergelet

Florine DergeletA web writer for over 10 years, Florine Dergelet is a traveler driven by the desire to discover the world with an open heart. Each of her articles is an invitation to slow down, to listen, to understand. For her, travel isn't about checking countries off a map, but about weaving connections—often invisible yet always powerful—with places, peoples, and all manner of creatures from the animal kingdom. Her motto? Advise travelers with integrity, awaken their consciousness about animal welfare, respect for cultures, and the importance of humble and sustainable tourism. Because the most beautiful memories are often born far from the spotlight, in the shadow of a trail, in the midst of a conversation, or in the quiet breath of a world we finally take the time to listen to…