Nasi goreng & Gili Islands

HEAVENS ON EARTH

NASI GORENG, IN A NUTSHELL, IS INDONESIAN FRIED RICE. IT’S SIMPLE FOOD, TYPICALLY MADE WITH LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS, AND VARIES QUITE A BIT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE. WHILE WE WERE THERE IN THE HOT SOUTH, IT ALMOST ALWAYS WAS SERVED WITH SOMETHING CRUNCHY, COOL AND FRESH ON THE SIDE.

 

Ingredients:

 OIL -2 TBSP

BUTTER – 2 TBSP

GARLIC – 2 TBSP, MINCED

CHICKEN – 2 THIGHS, CUT TO STRIPS (OPTIONAL)

EGGS- 1. BEATEN

RICE – 1 CUP RAW RICE COOKED

SALT – TO TASTE

BLACK PEPPER POWDER – TO TASTE

SWEET INDONESIAN SAUCE (KECAP MANIS) – 3 TSP OR AS NEEDED

SHREDDED CABBAGE- 1/2 CUP, PACKED

GREEN BEANS – 1/2 CUP, CUT DIAGONALLY

CARROTS – 1/4 CUP, SHREDDED

BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUM) – 1/4 OF BELL PEPPER

FIRM TOFU – 1/4 CUP, CUBED (OPTIONAL)

 

 Method:

 

1. Prep all the ingredients and keep aside.

2. In a wok-style pan, heat the Oil and add in the Butter and allow it to melt.

3. While it is still melting, add in the minced Garlic.

4. Add in the Chicken and cook till the Chicken Strips are white in color.

5. Add in the beaten Egg. Stir and cook.

6. Add in cooked and cold Rice. Mix and allow the Rice to heat up.

7. Season with Salt and Black Pepper.

8. Add in Kecap Manis (Sweet Indonesian Soy Sauce) and mix till there is no white Rice to be seen.

9. Add in the Vegetables and Tofu and mix well till everything is incorporated well.

10. Add in Homemade Sambal and give it one final mix.

11. Remove from flame and plate as desired.

12. In a small skillet, heat a tsp of Oil.

13. Break an Egg and cook as you would a fried egg.

14. Once done, season with Salt and Red Chilli Powder.

15. Plate on the Nasi Goreng and serve.

 

Gili Trawangan

The Gili Islands], Kepulauan Gili are an archipelago of three small islands or Gili island triplets— Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air — just off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

 

is the biggest and most visited of the three and has earned a reputation as ‘Party Island’ amongst the world’s travellers. Once a backpacker’s haven – with basic beach huts and simple bars, serving concoctions that offer ‘free lunar transport’ – Gili T has undergone some dramatic changes over the past five years and now caters to a decidedly more upmarket crowd, often with family in-tow, all seeking that tropical island experience with the luxuries of home. Aside from the laid-back beach culture, the main draw of the island is scuba diving, with a number of proffessional dive centres offering courses and fun dives. Watching the fishing boats passing through the channel between Gili T and Meno, plus the lack of motorized traffic still makes for a chilled out vibe - but at night time Gili T really is a partygoers paradise.