Indonesian Nasi Kuning Recipe

Nasi Kuning is a fragrant Indonesian yellow rice dish cooked in coconut milk and flavored with turmeric, pandan, lemongrass, kaffir and bay leaves. The coconut milk is mixed with water and heated up.

Once boiling, the rinsed rice and flavorings are added and cooked until all the liquid is absorbed. The rice is served accompanied by several side dishes and eaten as a main meal.

‘Nasi’ means rice and ‘kuning’ means yellow. It is also popular in Malaysia where it is known as nasi kunyit – ‘Kunyit’ means turmeric.

Typical side dishes to eat with Nasi Kuning include meats like beef and chicken, tofu, various vegetables, eggs, tempeh and potatoes.

The rice is usually molded into shapes, like a dome or even multilayered, appearing like a tiered cake. The most common shape is conical called the tumpeng. This has a special meaning because it represents the mountains where Indonesians believe their ancestors live.

Origin & Cultural Significance

Nasi Kuning is a staple but also served for special events including weddings, celebrating achievements and to celebrate the birth of a child. The deep yellow or golden color signifies good fortune.

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Indonesian Nasi Kuning Recipe

Yield: Serves 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Nasi Kuning is an Indonesian fragrant yellow rice dish cooked in coconut milk and flavored with turmeric, pandan, lemongrass, kaffir and bay leaves.

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Ingredients

• Rice - 2 cups
• Turmeric powder - 1 Tbsp
• Lemongrass (bruised and chopped) - 1 stalk
• Pandan leaves (fresh) - 3
• Bay leaves - 2
• Kaffir lime leaves - 2
• Salt - ½ tsp
• Coconut milk - ½ cup
• Water - 2 ½ cups

Instructions

1. Wash the rice until it runs clear.
2. Drain with a sieve to make sure all water is drained off.
3. Bring the water and coconut milk to a boil.
4. Add rice and the rest of the ingredients, stir to mix.
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it cook covered for 10-15 minutes. The liquid should be fully absorbed.
6. Once the liquid is fully absorbed, bring heat to a complete simmer and let cook for another 5-10 minutes. The rice will dry up.
7. Remove rice from heat and fluff with a fork.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 185Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 303mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g

Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.