Nasi Goreng - Delicious Indonesian Fried Rice - step by step easy recipe

This is just a one-pot rice dish originated in Indonesia with multiple flavours and no wonder that it gained such a huge popularity in the South Asian region. 

Indonesian mothers used to serve this dish as breakfast by tossing vegetables, leftover cooked chicken and prawns with cold rice from the previous night’s dinner and flavoured with some sauces. They must have never believed that this simple, hurriedly rustled-up dish would win the hearts of many and become the most sorted dish in the Asian region and beyond.

Cold rice: The benefit of using cold rice is that it does not get overcooked in the process of cooking under a high flame but gives a very appetising texture.

Prawns: Adding prawns to this dish proves to be a perfect culinary ingenuity, as seafood and rice just go so well together. from the homemade chilli paste.

Chilli paste: The secret of the addictive delicious taste and tempting colour stems from the homemade savoury taste of shrimp, blended with the subtle sweetness of soy sauce and sugar with the right quantities of chilli flakes, ginger and garlic. This condiment provides a more delicious twist than any other food enhancer. 

 Chilli paste 

(Make this at home. No brands in the shops will give the same explosive taste or flavours) 

Gather all the ingredients needed for the rice and for the chilli paste

1) Ingredients needed for the rice 

2 cups - Rice (Samba, Sonamasoori)

500g   - Chicken

250g   - Prawns

1 cup  - each (Carrots and leeks)

1         - Onion

3         - Eggs

Ginger garlic paste

A green chilli

Oil for frying

Salt

Sauces:

4tbsp - Soy sauce       

4tbsp  -Fish sauce (optional)      

         

2) Ingredients needed for the Chilli Paste

2 cups - Dried Shrimp

1tbsp   - Sugar

1tsp     - Salt

3tbsp   - Soy sauce

2tbsp   - Chilli flakes

1/2 cup- Onions

2tbsp   - Ginger garlic paste

1tbsp   - Vinegar

Curry leaves

Let’s make;

             

1st Step –  Make the Chilli Paste

Homemade chilli paste for Nasi Goreng

 

Ingredients needed for the Chilli Paste        

Instead of deep frying all the ingredients as everyone usually does,  I stir-fried and the result was simply amazing!

Tip: Taste this once and you will never buy any supermarket brands.  Make a large batch and stick it in the fridge. It will sit in the fridge fresh and aromatic for about a month.

Let's make it;

• In 2tbsp of oil, stir-fry the dried shrimp and keep aside
• Add 1tbsp more oil and fry onions and keep aside
• Add another 1tbsp of oil and fry chilli flakes, chopped ginger, garlic and curry leaves
• Now, bring them all together and give a good toss and a mix 
• Add soy sauce, vinegar sugar and salt
• Check the taste and add more salt and sugar accordingly, until it is just the right flavour you are looking for!
• Crush coarsely using a hand blender or a grinder
• Your delicious chilli paste is ready
• Store it in a glass jar and stick it in the fridge

2nd Step –  Prepare the chicken and prawns 

Ingredients needed for marinating :

1tsp  -  Chilli powder

1tbsp- Ginger garlic paste

1tbsp- Soy sauce

1/2ts- Turmeric powder

1tbsp- Lemon juice

Salt and pepper powder to taste

Stir-fry 

• Mix all the following ingredients and marinate Chicken and Prawns. Keep aside at least 20 mins.  
• Stir-fry chicken and keep it aside
• In the same pan stir-fry the prawns and keep them aside

(Prepare  this on the previous day and store in the fridge to save time)

3rd Step – Scramble the eggs

• Beat 2 eggs with a little salt and pepper and keep aside

4th Step – Prepare the rice 

• Wash the rice and leave in a bowl filled with cold water for 20 min
• Drain water and fill with fresh water just above the rice
• Add a few drops of oil
• Cook under medium flame until fluffy
• Keep aside to cool off completely (Cooked cold rice from the fridge is best for this recipe)

5th step – Let’s fry up all together

• Heat oil in a pan. If you have sesame oil use it as it gives a nice nutty flavour to this dish
• Stir-fry Onions and garlic
• Add in carrots.  Stir fry until almost done
• Tip the thinly sliced white and green parts of leeks
• Add in eggs and give a good mix until they scramble
• Push all to a side and add the sauces; soy sauce and fish sauce
• Bring the sauces and veggies together
• Stir fry on high flame
• Add in green chillies 
• Drop fried chicken and prawns 
• Continue to stir-fry and bring everything together
• Now add cold rice and stir-fry tossing and mixing rapidly under a high flame
• Adjust the taste; You can add more salt or sauces according to your taste
• Your Nasi rice is ready to serve now
• Fill a round bowl with rice, press down and tip upside down onto a plate to make a shape of a dome
• Fry eggs being careful to keep the egg yellow intact
• Place the fried egg, sunny side up on top 
• It's time to enjoy your home-made Nasi Goreng
• Delicious!