Description
Authentic Indonesian Nasi Goreng recipe featuring flavorful fried rice with chicken, kecap manis, and traditional spices, perfect for a quick and delicious meal garnished with fried eggs, fresh vegetables, and optional shrimp paste.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 5 oz / 150g chicken breast, thinly sliced (or other protein)
- 1 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)
- 1.5 tbsp oil
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tsp red chilli, finely chopped
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cups cooked white rice, day old and cold
- 2 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)
- 2 tsp shrimp paste, optional
- 4 eggs, fried to taste
- 1 green onion, sliced
Garnishes and Sides
- Tomatoes and cucumbers, cut into wedges or chunks
- Fried shallots, store bought, optional
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the skillet: Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat to ensure a hot cooking surface for stir-frying.
- Sauté aromatics: Add chopped chilli and garlic to the hot oil and stir fry quickly for about 10 seconds to release their flavors without burning.
- Cook onions: Add diced onion and cook for 1 minute, allowing them to soften and become translucent.
- Cook the chicken: Add thinly sliced chicken to the pan and cook until it turns mostly white, then add 1 tbsp kecap manis and continue cooking for another minute until the chicken is nearly cooked through and begins to caramelize.
- Add rice and seasonings: Add the cold, day-old cooked white rice, along with 2 tbsp kecap manis and optional shrimp paste. Stir constantly for 2 minutes to ensure the sauce reduces and coats the rice, allowing it to caramelize for rich flavor.
- Plate and garnish: Serve the nasi goreng hot, garnished with sliced green onions, optional fried shallots, and red chili for added texture and heat.
- Prepare fried eggs: Fry eggs to your liking (traditionally sunny side up with runny yolk) and place on top or alongside the rice to complete the dish.
- Add fresh sides: Accompany the dish with wedges of tomato and cucumber on the side for freshness and balance.
- Serve with lime: Offer lime wedges for squeezing over the fried rice to add a bright, acidic contrast.
Notes
- Use kecap manis, which is a sweet Indonesian soy sauce, to achieve the authentic flavor of Nasi Goreng.
- Red chili can be adjusted based on preferred spice level; remove seeds for less heat.
- Day-old rice is important for preventing clumping and achieving the signature fried rice texture.
- Shrimp paste is optional but adds umami depth; omit if allergic or vegetarian.
- Fried shallots add crunch and a sweet onion flavor—store-bought is convenient and effective.
- For a traditional Indonesian presentation, serve with a sunny-side-up egg, fresh vegetable wedges, and lime.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Indonesian
Keywords: Nasi Goreng, Indonesian Fried Rice, Sweet Soy Sauce, Chicken Fried Rice, Asian Recipe, Fried Egg, Spicy Fried Rice
