Recipe : Famous Nasi Ulam Betawi ( Betawinese Ulam Rice)

     The rice dish was a popular mention in Indonesia old novels. The famous soap Opera si Doel Anak Sekolahan even had a scene where doel helped his mom sell prepackaged nasi ulam. This savory dish is made from steamed rice mixed with roasted coconut.Some like to add pounded peanuts or mung beans that have been soaked overnight. The default options for sides garnish many variant such as perkedel ( smash fried potato), sambal, fried tofu/ tempe and sprinkle of lemon basil on the top. Now lets  make your Nasi Ulam!

Main Ingredients :

1. 500 gr nasi pera ( rice grains that dont stick together )
2. 100 gr grated coconut
3. 50 gr mung beans
4. 50 gr fried/ toasted peanuts ( coarsely pounded )

Spice Paste :

1. 1 little finger sized piece galangal ( grated)
2. 2 red chillies
3. 4 shallots
4. 1 garlic cloves
5. Salt to taste

How To Make :

1. Soak mung beans in cold water overnight (12 hours ) until soft.
2. In a food processor or using mortal and pestle grind grated galangal, shallots, garlic, chilli and little salt. Blend the spice paste with grated coconut then toast.
3. Using a bowl, mix rice with mung beans, coarsely ground peanuts and the toasted coconut.
4. Serve with fried rice vermicilli, sweet beef jerky, potato perkedel. Add braised tofu on the top of the rice and add lemon basil as garnish.

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