Nasi Goreng Recipe (Indonesian Fried Rice)

Ingredients:
1 shallot
1 garlic
1 red chili (seeded)
1/2 teaspoon toasted belacan (terasi)
1/2 teaspoon palm sugar
1/2 tablespoon kecap manis
8 oz. overnight rice
1 fried egg (well done)
2 tablespoons oil

Method:
Break the overnight/leftover rice using the back of a spoon so they don’t clump together. In a wok, toast the belacan on low heat until it becomes dry and aromatic. Toasted belacan should be somewhat powdery and appear like tiny granules. Fry an egg (well-done) and set aside.
Using a mortar and pestle or a mini food processor, blend the shallot, garlic, red chili, and toasted belacan. Transfer the blended flavoring paste into a small saucer.
Heat up a wok and add oil. Add the flavoring paste and stir-fry until aromatic or when the oil separates. Add the rice into the wok and stir well with the flavoring paste. Add kecap manis and palm sugar into the rice and continue to stir-fry and make sure that they are well blended with the rice. Dish out, top the nasi goreng with the fried egg and serve immediately.

Cook’s Note:
In Indonesia, nasi goreng is often served with various sides such fried prawn crackers, fresh vegetables such as lettuce, sliced cucumber, and sliced tomatoes. However, you can just make it plain like what I did. I also love sliced red chili dipped in kecap manis as a condiment. It’s great with the fried egg!

Pineapple Fried Rice

Ingredients:
8 oz. leftover and overnight rice
2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
4 oz. fresh pineapple (cut into small pieces)
4 oz. shrimp (shelled and deveined, leave whole or cut into small pieces)
2 tablespoons cashew nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon shrimp paste
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/2 tablespoon pineapple juice
1/4 teaspoon dark soy sauce (for coloring)
1 fresh red chili (seeded and cut into small pieces)
2 tablespoons oil
Cilantro leaves for garnishing
Method:
Heat up a wok and add cooking oil. Stir-fry garlic, red chili, and shrimp paste until aromatic. Add shrimp and stir-fry until half-cooked. Add rice, pineapple pieces, pineapple juice, and do a few quick stirs. Add fish sauce and dark soy sauce to blend well with rice. Stir-fry for another minute or so, dish out and serve immediately.

Penang Fried Rice Noodles

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 pound (1/8- to 1/4-inch wide) dried rice stick noodles
• 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten with a pinch of salt
• 1/2 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp
• 1 tablespoon chile paste (sambal oelek) or Chinese garlic chile paste
• 3 ounces Spanish chorizo, halved lengthwise, casing removed if desired (see Cooks’ Notes), sausage thinly sliced crosswise
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/2 pound jicama, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick matchsticks
• 1 bunch scallions (greens only), cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch lengths
• Lime wedges for serving

EQUIPMENT

• A 14-inch wok, preferably flat-bottomed, or a 12-inch heavy skillet

INSTRUCTIONS

• Soak noodles in cold water to cover 30 minutes, then drain. Cook noodles in a large (5- to 6-quart) pot of boiling salted water 4 minutes. Drain noodles in a colander, then rinse thoroughly and drain well.
• Stir together soy sauce and water, then reserve.
• Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in wok or skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add eggs and stir-fry until just cooked through, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate and wipe out pan, if necessary.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in pan until shimmering and stir-fry shrimp and chile paste 30 seconds (shrimp will not be cooked through).
• Add chorizo and garlic and stir-fry until shrimp are just cooked through, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add soy mixture, cooked noodles, jicama, and scallions, and stir-fry until noodles are heated through and scallion greens are wilted, about 1 minute.
• Remove pan from heat and stir in eggs. Serve immediately.