Rice Salad with Fresh Herbs

Name: Rice Salad with Fresh Herbs (Nasi Ulam)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Malaysia
Ingredients: 2 cups (400 g) uncooked rice, washed and drained; 3 cups (750 ml) water; 2 cm (¾ in) galangal root, bruised; ¼ teaspoon pandanus extract or 2 pandanus leaves, tied in a knot; ¼ teaspoon pandanus extract or 2 pandanus leaves, tied in a knot; 2 tablespoons thick coconut milk; 1 teaspoon salt; 3 daun salam (salam leaves) or 2 bunches coriander leaves (cilantro); 3 daun salam (salam leaves) or 2 bunches coriander leaves (cilantro); 3 daun salam (salam leaves) or 2 bunches coriander leaves (cilantro); 3 daun salam (salam leaves) or 2 bunches coriander leaves (cilantro); 2 daun maduk or 2 sprigs fennel leaves; 2 daun maduk or 2 sprigs fennel leaves; 2 kaffir lime leaves or 2 sprigs chervil or parsley; 2 kaffir lime leaves or 2 sprigs chervil or parsley; 2 kaffir lime leaves or 2 sprigs chervil or parsley; 2 sprigs daun selum or dill; 2 sprigs daun selum or dill; 2 sprigs laksa leaf or 1 sprig mint leaves; 2 sprigs laksa leaf or 1 sprig mint leaves; 1 cekur (zedoary) leaf or 1 sprig spearmint; 1 cekur (zedoary) leaf or 1 sprig spearmint; 1 sprig Asian basil; 1 turmeric leaf or 1 handful of lemon balm leaves; 1 turmeric leaf or 1 handful of lemon balm leaves; 1 stalk daun renganga or 1 handful of chives; 1 stalk lemongrass, thick bottom third only, outer layers removed, inner part only; 1 shallot; 1 wild ginger bud (bunga kantan) or 5 cm (2 in) fresh ginger; 1 wild ginger bud (bunga kantan) or 5 cm (2 in) fresh ginger

Nasi Ulam

Preparation info

Serves
4-6

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
50 min

Appears in

The Food of Malaysia

By Wendy Hutton

Published 2022

About

A collection of wonderfully fragrant herbs normally found in a kitchen garden are combined with cooked rice to make this popular Kelantan dish. Any combination of common fresh herbs can be eaten with rice scented with lemongrass and lime leaves to make this very simple and absolutely delicious dish.

Ingredients

2 cups (400 g) uncooked rice, washed and drained
3 cups (750

Asia
Malaysia
Gluten-free
Vegan

Method

Place the rice in a pan with the water, lemongrass, galangal, pandanus extract and lime leaves, coconut milk and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to the minimum. Stir, cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is light and fluffy. Alternatively, cook in a rice cooker.
Slice all the Fresh Herbs very thinly and arrange in separate mounds on a lar