NEWTON, Kansas (Mennonite Mission Network) – Nasi goreng (fried rice) may not be the official dish of Indonesia, but it’s certainly one of the most popular. And, like any culinary cultural staple, there’s no consensus on the exact recipe. In central Java, where I lived for a year with Journey International, nasi goreng was made with plenty of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) to give it a smoky, sweet flavor. However, nasi goreng can also be spicy, salty, made with tomato sauce, shrimp, pork, or even tripe, depending on who you ask.
No matter how it’s made, nasi goreng is filling, inexpensive, and makes good use of leftover rice and meat, which is no doubt part of the reason for its popularity throughout Indonesia. It also happens to be delicious.
The recipe in this video was adapted from watching and listening to host parents, friends, and vendors walk through their own memorized recipes, with most measurements falling under the suggestion of "add enough until it tastes right." Serve nasi goreng on its own, or alongside fried prawn crackers and cucumber slices.
Journey International is a service program of Mennonite Mission Network. For more information about opportunities to join in God’s work around the world, visit MennoniteMission.net/Serve.
