• Home
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • EASY RECIPES
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • BY CUISINE
    • Asian Fusion
    • Chinese
    • Peranakan/Nyonya
    • CAMBODIA
    • LAOS
    • INDONESIAN
    • Indonesian Chinese
    • MALAYSIA
    • MYANMAR
    • SINGAPORE
    • Singapore Hawker Food
    • THAILAND
    • VIETNAM
  • BY COURSE
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • SOURDOUGH
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • BREAD & BUNS
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • CAKES/COOKIES/PASTRIES
    • Cakes
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Cookies
    • Kue/Kueh
    • No-Bake Dessert
  • DIETARY
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Cooking
    • Christmas Baking
What To Cook Today
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • Pantry
  • Shop
  • subscribe
  • Home
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • EASY RECIPES
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • BY CUISINE
    • Asian Fusion
    • Chinese
    • Peranakan/Nyonya
    • CAMBODIA
    • LAOS
    • INDONESIAN
    • Indonesian Chinese
    • MALAYSIA
    • MYANMAR
    • SINGAPORE
    • Singapore Hawker Food
    • THAILAND
    • VIETNAM
  • BY COURSE
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • SOURDOUGH
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • BREAD & BUNS
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • CAKES/COOKIES/PASTRIES
    • Cakes
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Cookies
    • Kue/Kueh
    • No-Bake Dessert
  • DIETARY
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Cooking
    • Christmas Baking
What To Cook Today
What To Cook Today
  • Home
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • easy recipes
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • ingredients
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • sourdough
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • bread & buns
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • cakes/cookies/pastries
    • Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Cookies
    • No-Bake Dessert
    • Kue/Kueh
  • dietary
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Baking
    • Christmas Cooking

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

written by Marvellina Updated: June 30, 2020
7.5K
PIN RECIPE COMMENTS VIEW RECIPE
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Learn how to make this super easy and flavorful Indonesian nasi gurih using rice cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stove. Perfect as a side dish.

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

INDONESIAN NASI GURIH

Gurih means delicious or tasty in Indonesian language. So nasi gurih literally means delicious/tasty rice 🙂 It’s a pretty broad term actually. Nasi gurih is basically white rice cooked in coconut milk and herbs and/or spices.
Different regions seem to have different spices and herbs to make nasi gurih. There are versions that have many different spices and herbs and have more complex flavor. Some people like to use pandan leaves (screwpine leaves). Some
will add lemongrass stalks. I only use coconut milk and bay leaves. Pretty clean tasting but incredibly aromatic and rich tasting thanks to the coconut milk.

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

[disclosure]

ONLY 4 INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS NASI GURIH

1. JASMINE RICE
Our family loves jasmine rice to the max. It’s so aromatic on its own and it’s perfect to make nasi gurih. Do not substitute with short-grain rice as the nasi gurih will turn out sticky
2. COCONUT MILK
It certainly cannot be nasi gurih without coconut milk 🙂 It’s quintessential in Indonesian cooking
3. BAY LEAVES (DAUN SALAM)
I use dried Indonesian bay leaves (salam leaves) that my mom brought me all the way from Indonesia. Indonesian bay leaves have different aroma compared to let’s say Indian bay leaves, Mexican bay leaves, or the American bay leaves. Some people call salam leaf as Indian bay leaves, but they are actually not the same.
The closest substitution to salam leaf is Indian curry leaves.
4. SALT
Like in other cooking, salt is added to bring out the flavor of the nasi gurih

HOW TO COOK NASI GURIH IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS

STEP ONE: WASH THE RICE
1. Wash the rice until the water is clear
2. Drain off the water completely using a strainer if necessary. This is to make sure your liquid measurement is accurate

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

Water is drain off completely using a strainer

STEP TWO: COOK THE RICE
1. If using rice cooker: Add the rice, coconut milk, salt, and bay leaves in the inner pot. Give it a stir and cook with white rice setting or whatever setting on your rice cooker
Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)
2. If using Instant pot: You can use the “rice cooker” or “pressure cooker” setting. Pour the coconut milk into the inner pot and then add salt. Sprinkle the rice in and gently push the rice to make sure it’s covered by the coconut milk. Press “rice” setting or “pressure cooker”. Rice setting will cook automatically. If using pressure cooker, set the timer to 3 minutes
STEP THREE: FLUFF THE RICE
Once the rice is done cooking, wait for 10 minutes and then fluff the rice with rice paddle or fork
Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

WHAT TO SERVE WITH NASI GURIH

There’s really not hard and fast rule what to serve with nasi gurih. I usually make sure there’s some protein, veggies, and sambal to accompany nasi gurih, or they call it nasi gurih komplit. Here’s some ideas to get you started:
Animal protein: Ayam panggang bumbu kecap, ayam goreng kremes
Meatless protein: sambal telur, sambal goreng tempe, sambal kentang
Vegetables and Sambal dishes: fresh slices of cucumbers, fresh slices of tomatoes, terong balado, sambal terong bakar, sambal ikan teri

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

Nasi gurih with otak otak tahu, pindang telur, and sambal

OTHER NASI GURIH YOU MIGHT LIKE

nasi lemak, nasi liwet, nasi kuning, nasi pandan.

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

Rice Cooker or Instant Pot Nasi Gurih (in 3 Simple Steps)

Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Servings 6 servings
5 from 3 reviews
REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Jasmine rice
  • ½ cup coconut cream thick coconut milk
  • 3 cups water add another 1/2 cup if cooking on the stove
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • 2 bay leaves 4 if you use dried leaves

Instructions
 

  • Wash the rice in several changes of water until the water is clear. Drain off water completely. Use a strainer to make sure you completely remove all water

To cook with rice cooker:

  • Transfer the rice to inner pot of rice cooker. Pour in coconut milk. Add the salt. Give it a stir. Add bay leaves
  • Press the white rice setting or whatever setting on your rice cooker. It takes about 20 minutes or less on my rice cooker to cook
  • Wait 10 minutes before opening the lid. Then fluff the rice with rice paddle and nasi gurih is ready to be served

To cook with Instant pot rice cooker feature:

  • Pour coconut milk and salt to the rice cooker. Stir to mix. Sprinkle in the rice and then gently push the rice to make sure it's covered by the liquid. I do it this way to prevent the IP from showing "burn" message later. It doesn't always happen, but it might sometimes. Add bay leaves
  • Close the lid. Turn the steam release valve to seal. Press "rice" and it will automatically set everything else for you and it will beep when it starts cooking and when it's done cooking. Wait 10 minutes and then unlock the lid and fluff the rice

To cook with Instant pot pressure cooker feature:

  • Pour coconut milk and salt to the rice cooker. Stir to mix. Sprinkle in the rice and then gently push the rice to make sure it's covered by the liquid. I do it this way to prevent the IP from showing "burn" message later. It doesn't always happen, but it might sometimes. Add bay leaves
  • Close the lid. Turn the steam release valve to seal. Press "pressure cooker" and then "high pressure". Set the timer to 5 minutes. When it's done cooking, wait for 10 minutes before opening the lid to fluff the rice
  • Unlock the lid and fluff the rice with the rice paddle

To cook on the stove:

  • Pour the coconut milk and salt into the pot. Bring to a boil and then stir in the rice. Return to a boil and then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 5 minutes and then give it a stir and cover it back and let it cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and DO NOT open the lid yet. Wait 10 minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, uncover the lid and fluff the rice
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I'd love to see your photos/videos on Instagram


previous post
BALINESE CHICKEN/ AYAM BALI
next post
MEXICAN-STYLE SCRAMBLED EGGS/ HUEVOS A LA MEXICANA

8 comments

Maria March 10, 2025 - 1:32 am

Hi Marv,
I’m Indonesian and I don’t even know how to make nasi gurih exactly. Is it the original recipe or you just simplified it? The question I ask is because I’ve been searching for a nasi gurih recipe and always got those with so many ingredients. But I don’t want very tasty rice that will interfere with the tastes of other food I cook (gulai, for example). Anyway, your recipe seems like the one I’ve been looking for. Thanks a lot!

Reply
Marvellina March 10, 2025 - 8:54 pm

Hi Maria, I’m not sure if it is original or not, but one thing I know in common for nasi gurih is that it is cooked in coconut milk. As for the herbs and spices, every family seems to have their own version. Some used more spices and herbs, some also keep it just simple, afterall like you said, nasi gurih is usually paired with other dishes. I don’t think there’s right or wrong here.

Reply
Glenda June 30, 2020 - 6:48 pm

Hi Marv, really love your recipes, and makes me easy if I got nostalgic with Indonesian food!
Since I only lives with my husband, and probably we will only use 1 cup of jasmine rice for nasi uduk, could you tell me what is the combination for the water and coconut water in it? Thank you so much!

Reply
Marv June 30, 2020 - 10:00 pm

Hi Glenda, you can use 1 cup of water with about 3 Tbsp thick coconut milk (coconut cream). If you plan to cook on the stove, you want to add another 1/2 cup of water as more water evaporates compares to cooking with a rice cooker. I hope you like the recipe.

Reply
Glenda December 5, 2020 - 12:47 pm

Thank you for your feedback.. I have coconut milk, is it different measurement than coconut cream? How much is the measurement if I want to make it with 1 cup jasmine rice?

Reply
Marvellina December 6, 2020 - 1:36 pm

Coconut cream is thicker. For 1 cup jasmine rice you can use 1 cup of water and 1 cup of coconut milk. I hope this helps.

Reply
What To Cook Today February 20, 2012 - 9:45 am

Hi Dee,

Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind words. This has became my passion now for a while and I can’t be happier that what to cook today can help people to come up with ideas for what to cook 🙂 Hope you enjoy your visit and come back often. 🙂

Reply
Dee Gottschling February 18, 2012 - 3:05 pm

I am speechless when i browse thru your site. Very impressive. A lot of hard work, and dedication. You deserve an award.
Being a home maker, sometime you tell yourself “whattocooktoday” even when there is so many availability out there. That is why I am so glad to have come across your site.
Thank you and have a nice day and keep up the good work.

Reply
5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Please feel free to ask questions here or leave your comments and ratings if you have tried the recipe! Your Email address will not be published!




Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello! I'm Marvellina!

I’m passionate about food—especially bold, comforting Asian flavors—and I love sharing approachable recipes and creative bakes with an Asian twist. So glad you’re here! LEARN MORE...

Our Favorites

  • How To Make Soft and Fluffy Pandan Chiffon Cake (Complete Guide)

  • How to Make Basic Asian Rice Porridge (Congee)

  • Zha Jiang Mian (炸酱面) (Chinese Fried Sauce Noodles)

  • Easy Hokkien Bak Chang (Zongzi-Sticky Rice Dumplings)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

©2025 - What To Cook Today. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy & Disclosure Policy


Back To Top
  • Home
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • easy recipes
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • ingredients
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • sourdough
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • bread & buns
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • cakes/cookies/pastries
    • Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Cookies
    • No-Bake Dessert
    • Kue/Kueh
  • dietary
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Baking
    • Christmas Cooking

Let me know how you like the recipe and consider rating it!

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.