Indonesian Fried Rice using Shrimp Paste (Nasi Goreng)

 Accidentally found this tasty recipe at Indochine Kitchen while I am searching for recipes using shrimp paste. Shrimp paste is commonly used in Southeast Asia and Chinese cuisine. In India, we don't use shrimp paste. I accidentally came to know about shrimp paste and accidentally found it in a Chinese market while searching for soy sauce.

Shrimp paste is made from fermented ground shrimp and mixed with salt and available in wet form or sun dried and cut into cubes or sold in bulk.

Nasi Goreng means fried rice in Indonesian. Nasi Goreng will have many varieties depending on the ingredients used.  Today's recipe is fried rice using shrimp paste. For this recipe we use a paste which is made by using red chilies, shrimp paste, shallots and garlic. This paste is fried and then rice and kecap manis (soy sauce) are added. Kecap manis is an Indonesian sauce similar to sweet soy sauce. Adding veggies, chicken and shrimp is optional.
 

Grind shrimp paste, onion, red chilies and garlic into paste and fry in a wok.

When the paste is fried, push it aside and add veggies. When they a half done add egg and fry.

Add rice, soy sauce, salt and mix well.

 Source - Wikipedia

Ingredients

• Uncooked Rice - 2 cups
• Small Onion - 1 (we can also use shallots)
• Red Chilies - 3 or to taste (If don't have red chilies, soak dry red chilies and use instead)
• Garlic Cloves - 5
• Shrimp Paste - 3 Tbsp (We can get that from Chinese market and  I am using wet paste)
• Soy sauce - 3 tsp (I used Chinese thick soy sauce)
• Eggs - 4
• Oil - 3 Tbsp
• Salt to taste

Veggies

• Green peas - 1/2 cup
• Carrot - 1
• French beans - 1/4 cup
• Spring onions - 5

Preparation

• Wash and cook rice by adding 4 cups of water and let it cool completely.
• Grind onion, red chilies, garlic and shrimp paste into paste.
• Heat oil in a wok, add the shrimp paste mixture and cook till oil oozes out and there is no raw smell on a medium flame.
• Push the mixture to the side of a wok and add veggies and cook till they are half done.
• Mean while, heat a pan and make an omelet with the remaining egg. Crack egg and cook it. Sprinkle some salt and pepper. (Fried egg is served, but I served with omelet)
• Again push the veggies to a side and crack 3 eggs and add to the wok and scramble them.
• Add cooked rice and mix well by adding soy sauce and salt by turning the flame to high.
• Fry the rice until all is mixed well and the rice is hot, stirring occasionally.
• Add spring onions and serve hot with omelet.