Nasi Goreng - Made easy with substitutes

The thing about Nasi Goreng is in its umami flavour and the fullness it exudes in the fifth taste . During my many visits to Indonesia , i learnt that the perfect Nasi Goreng has two main ingredients - the 1st , being the Kecak Manis or the sweet soy sauce and the second - the Terasi or the Indonesian shrimp paste . Terasi is an umami bomb that will pervade both in your kitchen and in your senses , long after you have devoured the dish . Quite honestly , however , if you are not a fan of fish sauce and the pungency of terasi then , Nasi Goreng is definitely not your thing and any another Chinese fried rice could easily substitute .

I belong to the hardcore Nasi Goreng fan club . The catch around this time's cook , is that amidst all this crazy quarantine , i had neither of the two core ingredients . With the tremendous craving for umami driving me , what followed was mindbogglingly good - Check out this hungry boy special ' Nasi Goreng - made easy with substitutes ' !

Things you will need for the Nasi Goreng

• 01 cup of precooked rice ( The rice needs to be cooked to 50% and drained out dry , like you would do for any fried rice )

• 05 pods of garlic

• 01 inch ginger

• 03- 04 red chilli , finely chopped

• 01 onion , finely chopped

• Assorted veges ( You can use a combination of whatever you want as a part of your fried rice - I used broccoli , corn , beans , carrots and red cabbage all finely chopped into bite size pieces )

• 02 tbsp fish oil

• 01 /2 cup dry shrimp ( I made this into a powder in the blender to replace the Terasi paste )

• 02 tbsp soy sauce mixed with 01 tbsp honey ( To replace the Kecak Manis )

• 02 tbsp Indonesian / Malaysian curry paste ( Available at any grocer store)

• Handful of finely chopped green onion

• Salt and Pepper to taste

• 02 tbsp vegetable oil

• Prawn chips for the sides ( Optional )

• Eggs , for the sunny side up

For the Chicken Satay

• Boneless chicken pieces for the Satay sticks , cubed to small pieces

• 01 tsp garlic powder

• Salt and Pepper

• 01 tsp sesame seeds

Steps to follow :

• In a mortar and pestle , add half the onion , 02 tbsp dry shrimp , 02 whole red chillies , ginger and garlic and make into a coarse paste and keep aside .

• Heat oil in a pan till smoking hot - to this , add in the remaining onion , followed by all the veges and saute on high flame for 03 mins.

• Next add in the rice , followed by the paste prepared in the mortar , sweet honey soy , the Indonesian / Malaysian curry paste and the fish oil .

• Stir everything vigorously till well incorporated .

• Last , add in another 02 - 03 tbsp of the shrimp powder , salt , pepper and the remaining chopped red - chillies.

• Stir fry on high flame for 10 minutes

• Finish with freshly chopped green onion .

• Plate up the Nasi Goreng with a sunny side up egg , fresh tomato and cucumber salad , some prawn chips and chicken satay . Enjoy !

For the Chicken Satay

• Marinade boneless pieces of chicken in dark soy sauce with some garlic flakes , salt and pepper for 30 mins .

• Pin them into satay stick's and pan sear these on low heat for 10 - 15 mins .

• Top with sesame seeds .