How to Make Nasi Goreng | Easy Indonesian Fried Rice with a Flavorful Homemade Sauce
Nasi Goreng is a popular Indonesian fried rice dish known for its rich, savory, slightly sweet, and spicy flavor. You can easily make it at home using leftover rice, eggs, chicken or shrimp, vegetables, and a special sauce made with kecap manis, Indonesia's sweet soy sauce.
The secret to delicious nasi goreng is using well-chilled rice and balancing the sweetness of kecap manis with savory seasonings. Here is an easy two-serving recipe with a homemade sauce that brings out its signature Indonesian flavor.
π³ Nasi Goreng at a Glance
Servings: 2
Main ingredients: Cooked rice, eggs, shrimp or chicken, and vegetables
Signature seasoning: Kecap manis, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and chili
Flavor: Sweet, savory, and mildly spicy
Cooking tip: Use chilled rice and stir-fry over high heat.
π What Is Nasi Goreng?
Nasi Goreng is one of Indonesia's best-known dishes. In Indonesian, "nasi" means rice, while "goreng" means fried.
Unlike many other fried rice dishes, traditional nasi goreng often uses kecap manis, a thick, sweet Indonesian soy sauce. Garlic, shallots, and chili are also commonly used to create its distinctive flavor.
Recipes vary from household to household and across regions. Nasi goreng is often served with a fried egg, fresh cucumber, tomato, and sometimes crispy prawn crackers.
π Ingredients for Homemade Nasi Goreng
This recipe makes two servings.
2 cups cooked rice, preferably chilled
8β10 shrimp or 100 g chicken
2 eggs
1/2 onion
1/2 stalk green onion
A small amount of carrot
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Cooking oil
You can substitute shrimp with chicken or pork, or use vegetables you already have in your refrigerator.
πΆοΈ How to Make the Special Nasi Goreng Sauce
The sauce gives nasi goreng its characteristic sweet and savory taste. Mix the following ingredients in a small bowl:
2 tablespoons kecap manis
1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1/2 tablespoon gochujang or a little sambal
1/2 tablespoon sugar
A pinch of black pepper
Stir until everything is well combined.
Kecap manis is an Indonesian sweet soy sauce with a thick consistency. It is sweeter than regular soy sauce and plays an important role in creating authentic nasi goreng flavor.
If you cannot find kecap manis, you can mix regular soy sauce with sugar as a substitute. However, the flavor and consistency will not be exactly the same.
π©βπ³ How to Make Nasi Goreng Step by Step
β Prepare the ingredients
Peel and devein the shrimp, or cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop the onion and carrot, and slice the green onion.
For the best texture, use chilled rice rather than freshly cooked hot rice. Cold rice is generally less sticky and easier to stir-fry.
β‘ Cook the eggs and main ingredients
Heat a little cooking oil in a large frying pan. Scramble the eggs until cooked, then transfer them to a plate.
Add a little more oil to the same pan. Stir-fry the garlic and green onion until fragrant. Add the shrimp or chicken and cook thoroughly.
Add the chopped onion and carrot, then continue stir-frying until the vegetables begin to soften.
β’ Add the rice and special sauce
Add the chilled rice to the pan and break up any clumps with a spatula.
Pour in the prepared sauce and stir-fry over high heat until the sauce is evenly distributed throughout the rice.
Return the cooked scrambled eggs to the pan and mix everything together.
β£ Serve with a fried egg
Transfer the nasi goreng to serving plates and top each portion with a fried egg.
For a refreshing contrast, serve with sliced cucumber and tomato. Crispy prawn crackers are another popular accompaniment.
β¨ Tips for Making Better Nasi Goreng
Use chilled rice: This helps prevent the rice from becoming mushy or overly sticky.
Cook over high heat: Stir-frying quickly helps reduce excess moisture and develop a delicious fried-rice aroma.
Prepare the sauce in advance: Mixing the seasonings beforehand makes it easier to coat the rice evenly.
Adjust the spice level: Add more or less sambal or gochujang depending on your preference.
Keep in mind that kecap manis and oyster sauce vary in sweetness and saltiness depending on the brand. Taste the rice before adding extra seasoning.
π½οΈ Enjoy Homemade Indonesian Nasi Goreng!
Nasi goreng is a wonderful way to turn leftover rice and simple ingredients into a flavorful meal. Its combination of sweet soy sauce, savory seasonings, fresh vegetables, and eggs makes it both satisfying and easy to customize.
Start with the basic sauce recipe, then adjust the sweetness and heat to suit your taste. Prepare two servings of rice, a few shrimp, and eggs, and enjoy making your own Indonesian-style fried rice at home!