Food Lorists: Nasi Kuning

Nasi Kuning

Labels: Recipes Posted by Yann_Chef on at 4:04 p.m.

While being on holiday in Bali during the Christmas period a friend of mine was served nasi kuning has part of the lunch in celebration of Christmas. Christmas is not a traditional holy day in Bali as most of the population is of Muslim faith. But still, the family in which had welcomed him for 2 weeks did have a small celebration on Christmas day when simple presents were exchanged and a festive meal was served at lunch time. So, he gave me this recipe for the traditional nasi kuning from Bali.

Recipe for 4 people:

1 1/2 cups long-grain rice, washed and drained
2 1/2 cups coconut milk
3/4 cup chicken stock
1 salam leaf*
1 pandan leaf**
1 stalk lemon grass, bruised
2 tablespoon turmeric
2 cm laos***, cut in 4, lengthwise
1 tablespoon salt

Combine all ingredients.

Cook the rice over high heat until the liquid comes to the boil, then lower heat. Then, simmer gently, so that the coconut milk does not catch and burn on the bottom of the pot.

Remove the lemon grass and laos before serving.

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* salam leaf is a subtly flavored lead of the cassia family, this bears no resemblance whatsoever to the taste of a bay leaf, which is sometimes suggested as a substitute.

** pandan leaf is the fragrant leaf of a type of pandanus sometimes known as fragrant screwpine, this is tied in a knot and used to flavor dessert and cakes.

*** laos is the name for galangal in Bali and Indonesia.