Nasi Liwet Sunda ( Indonesian Aromatic Spiced and Coconut Rice)
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Indonesian
Prep Time: 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 20 minutesminutes
Total Time: 30 minutesminutes
Servings: 6servings
Calories: 278kcal
Author: Marvellina
White long-grain rice is cooked in herbs, spices, coconut milk and served with arrays of side dishes. Can be made on stove-top, rice cooker, or instant pot.
Wash the rice with clean running water until the water is clear. Completely drain off the water with a strainer if necessary to make sure no water is collecting in between the rice grain. Set aside
Cooking on stove-top:
Preheat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a large heavy-bottom pot with tight-fitting lid. Add shallots and garlic and stir fry for 1 minute. Add salted fish (if using) and stink beans, and whole red chili. Stir fry for another minute. Add lemongrass stalk, galangal, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves and stir fry again. Add rice grain, salt, and sugar. Stir to mix everything. Pour in the coconut milk and stir again. Bring to a gentle boil and then lower the heat to simmer. Close the lid and cook for the next 20 minutes undisturbed. Remove from the heat after 20 minutes and wait for 10 minutes before opening the lid. After 10 minute, uncover the lid and fluff the rice with a fork. There should be some "crust" at the bottom of the pot, which is normal and in fact the local like this crispy crust (kerak nasi) at the bottom of the pot. You can discard the lemongrass stalks and other leaves
Cooking with rice cooker:
Preheat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a large heavy-bottom pot with tight-fitting lid. Add shallots and garlic and stir fry for 1 minute. Add salted fish (if using) and stink beans, and whole red chili. Stir fry for another minute. Add lemongrass stalk, galangal, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves and stir fry again. Add rice grain, salt, and sugar. Stir to mix everything. Pour in the coconut milk and stir again. Transfer to a rice cooker and cook like you would regular plain white rice or use the white rice setting if available. You can discard the lemongrass stalks and other leaves
Cooking with Instant pot:
Press saute on Instant Pot. When it's "HOT", add 1 Tbsp of cooking oil and swirl it to coat the bottom of the pot. Add shallots and garlic and stir fry for 1 minute. Add salted fish (if using) and stink beans, and whole red chili. Stir fry for another minute. Add lemongrass stalk, galangal, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves and stir fry again. Deglaze by pouring in water,coconut milk, and seasonings. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot so nothing is stuck there. Turn off the saute mode
Sprinkle in the rice. Use the spatula to gently push in the rice so it is covered by liquid. Close the lid. Press "Pressure Cooker". Set on "High Pressure" and use -/+ button to set the timer to 3 minutes. Turn the steam release valve to seal. When 3 minutes is over, wait 10 minutes and then release the pressure. I like to loosely cover the steam release valve with cloth when I release pressure. Once the pressure valve is down all the way, uncover the lid and fluff the rice. You can discard the lemongrass stalks and other leaves
While the rice is cooking:
Preheat 1 Tbsp of oil in a large non-stick skillet. Pan fry the dried anchovies until crispy. Add about 1/4 tsp of sugar will give it a really nice sweet taste but not overly sweet. Remove into an absorbent paper towel. In the same skillet pan fry the basil until crispy
Serving:
You can pile the toppings you prepare on top of the rice and let everyone get their own rice or served the toppings on the side