Rice and Basic Preparations

Rice is one of Indonesia’s most important staples, and there are countless ways to prepare it, ranging from a simple boiled/steamed rice to more elaborate preparations like Nasi Kuning. Julia and I both have rice cookers at home, but not everyone has one. Hence, I offer a simple stovetop method.

This chapter also features preparations for items that may be challenging to find. Even if you can’t find kecap manis (or if you’re gluten-free), we still want you to be able to make our recipes! You will find spice pastes to prepare in bulk (Bumbu Dasar Putih) and directions for making fried shallots (Bawang Goreng) at home.