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Nasi goreng

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Nasi goreng is a famous rice dish from Southeast Asia. The name means "fried rice" in Malay and Indonesian.

Nasi Goreng Kampung Malaysia
Nasi Goreng Kampung Malaysia

People across many lands love to eat it. It is a common meal in Indonesia and Malaysia. You can also find it in Singapore and Brunei. It is even a part of festive food and street-food culture. In Indonesia, it is a proud national dish.

Malam Tanpa Kendaraan 2012-13 - Kaki Lima Berjaya - panoramio
Malam Tanpa Kendaraan 2012-13 - Kaki Lima Berjaya - panoramio

Making this dish is a simple and tasty process. Cooks start with rice that was cooked before.

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van een vrouw die nasi goreng bereidt in de keuken TMnr 20000280
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van een vrouw die nasi goreng bereidt in de keuken TMnr 20000280

They fry the rice in a little oil or margarine. To give it flavor, they add sweet soy sauce and garlic. They might also use shallots, shrimp paste, tamarind, or chili. This makes the rice taste smoky and spicy. Many people add eggs, chicken, prawns, or vegetables to make a full meal.

Nasi Goreng Breakfast Set in Solo
Nasi Goreng Breakfast Set in Solo

The history of this dish is very interesting. Some people believe it started from Chinese fried rice.

COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Chinese zeilschepen Yonken Sin Tong Heng (links) en Tek Hwa Seng bij Poeloe Samboe TMnr 10010680
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Chinese zeilschepen Yonken Sin Tong Heng (links) en Tek Hwa Seng bij Poeloe Samboe TMnr 10010680

It was likely a way to avoid wasting leftover rice. In China, stir-frying became popular during the Ming dynasty from 1368 to 1644. Chinese merchants and sailors traveled across the South China Sea. They brought these cooking styles to many trading ports. This helped spread the idea of fried rice to new places.

Many different versions of the dish exist today. In Java, some rice is savory and some is sweet.

BUMBU NASI GORENG JAWA (tanpa tulisan)
BUMBU NASI GORENG JAWA (tanpa tulisan)

One special kind is called nasi goreng kambing, which uses goat meat. This version uses rich spices and ghee, which is a type of butter. Nasi goreng has even traveled far away from its home. It is eaten in Sri Lanka, Suriname, and the Netherlands. This happened because of people moving to new lands over many years.

Nasigroni Rice
Nasigroni Rice
Nasi Goreng Trafasie
Nasi Goreng Trafasie

Nasi goreng is more than just a simple meal. It is a part of important history in Indonesia. For example, it was served as a meal during a big meeting in 1945. Leaders were working on a document for Indonesian independence at that time. The dish is also used in politics today. Some people call it "nasi goreng diplomacy." This means it is used to help politicians talk and work together.

Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih Jakarta 1
Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih Jakarta 1

It truly is a dish that brings people together.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van een vrouw die nasi goreng bereidt in de keuken TMnr 20000280.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van een...
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Chinese zeilschepen Yonken Sin Tong Heng (links) en Tek Hwa Seng bij Poeloe Samboe TMnr 10010680.jpg
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De Chinese...
File:Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih Jakarta 1.jpg
Nasi Goreng Kambing Kebon Sirih Jakarta 1.jpg
File:126v.jpg
126v.jpg
File:Malam Tanpa Kendaraan 2012-13 - Kaki Lima Berjaya - panoramio.jpg
Malam Tanpa Kendaraan 2012-13 - Kaki Lima...
File:BUMBU NASI GORENG JAWA (tanpa tulisan).png
BUMBU NASI GORENG JAWA (tanpa tulisan).png
File:Nasi Goreng Breakfast Set in Solo.JPG
Nasi Goreng Breakfast Set in Solo.JPG
File:Nasi Goreng Kampung Malaysia.jpg
Nasi Goreng Kampung Malaysia.jpg
File:Nasigroni Rice.JPG
Nasigroni Rice.JPG
File:Nasi Goreng Trafasie.JPG
Nasi Goreng Trafasie.JPG
File:Nasi Goreng Travelling Vendor in Jakarta.JPG
Nasi Goreng Travelling Vendor in Jakarta.JPG
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