Nasi Kuning (Indonesian Turmeric Rice)

This Nasi Kuning (Indonesian Turmeric Rice) is rich and creamy and the most authentic way to enjoy an iconic Indonesian dish. It’s easy and simple to make with delicious flavor for your next quick meal. Today, learn how to make this turmeric rice with a rice cooker, stove, and Instant Pot.

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Turmeric Rice, called Nasi Kuning, is a traditional dish in Asia, particularly in Indonesia. It is a very popular dish for its delicious taste and vibrant color.

What is nasi kuning?

Nasi in Indonesian means rice and kuning means yellow. It is famous for its delicious taste and aroma. The turmeric, along with other key spices, helps add flavor and aroma.

Turmeric rice is very easy to make and doesn’t require much effort. Even cooking this on the stove does not take much time. In less than 30 minutes, you can have a beautiful and delicious dish that everyone will love!

Cooking this dish in a rice cooker or instant pot will not only speed up the process but allow you to focus on your other dishes for your meal!

Tips to make nasi kuning

Here are a few key tips so your dish comes out delicious and exactly like the traditional dish.

1. Rice is usually starchy. When it has too much starch, it gets sticky. Make sure to carefully clean your rice until the water becomes clear, so it isn’t sticky
2. It is also important to let the rice sit before fluffing it. Usually, ten minutes is good enough waiting period before fluffing
3. Use a bowl or paper shaped like a cone to help create the right shape for your dish. In Indonesia, they create a cone shape for their rice. A rice bowl works perfectly, but any bowl will also do. Traditionally, they use banana leaves to create this shape
4. It is crucial to have the exact ratio of rice to water, or else it will not turn out right. It could be too watery or sticky if you use too little or too much water. When cooking in the rice cooker, you can use a 1:1 ratio of water and rice. However, for the stovetop, try adding an additional ½ cup of water. This is because the water can easily get out more on the stove than in a rice cooker
5. If the rice is still a bit sticky, you can try to add a small bit of olive oil and mix it once again. This typically helps to make it fluffy

Ingredients

• Rice. I use medium-grain rice and you can learn the difference in this How to Cook Rice Properly post. And for this specific recipe, I recommend using California Blonde from Planet Rice
• Turmeric powder. This nasi kuning get their golden hue from turmeric. Turmeric is getting lots of attention because the active ingredient in it, curcumin, has potent anti-inflammatory properties and has been associated with having positive effects on diseases like Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
• Lemongrass stalk, fresh pandan leaves, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves. All these herbs make a perfect ensemble of flavors! Fun fact: cab drivers in Vietnam are especially fond of pandan leaves and use them as air fresheners
• Coconut milk, water. Coconut milk will add rich flavors as the rice cooks

Why Planet Rice

Here’s a bunch of reasons why I believe in Planet Rice:

• High in nutrition, non-GMO, and rich in health benefits
• Easy to prepare and offer more flavor in less cooking time
• They offer a range of products and packaging/preparation methods with all delivering a convenient variety, such as California Calrose, Sprouted Brown Rice, Power Blend, and California Blonde Rice

How to make tumeric rice in the rice cooker

It is very simple to make Nasi Kuning in the rice cooker. Here is how to make it!

Cooking it in the rice cooker is very simple. Add all the ingredients to your rice cooker. Mix thoroughly. Then, cook on the white rice setting. Be sure to wait 10 minutes after it is finished before fluffing the rice. Put in a bowl to shape it, and serve alongside your meal.

How to make nasi kuning in an instant pot

You can also easily make this dish in an instant pot. Add all the ingredients just like you would with the rice cooker. However, it is best to leave out the coconut milk until the very end. Mix it thoroughly, and then add the coconut milk to the top. This will help you not to have a warning or error message. Cook for 5 minutes and have a 10-minute pressure release. Then fluff, cone, and serve your rice!

How to make nasi kuning on the stove

Follow these steps to create the perfect Nasi Kuning dish!

1. Begin by washing the rice. You’ll want to do this several times. Wash the rice until the water runs clear. Then, drain your rice with a sieve to make sure all the water is drained off. Again, remember that washing all the starch off the rice helps make the rice less sticky and gives it the perfect texture
2. Next, bring the water and coconut milk to a boil. Once it is boiling, add the rice along with the rest of the ingredients. Stir to mix all the ingredients together. Then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and let it cook for 10-15 minutes
3. Once the liquid is fully absorbed, bring the rice to a simmer and let it cook for another 5 to 10 minutes. This is when the rice will dry up and become incredibly fluffy
4. Remove the rice from the stove. Now you can fluff it with a fork

Storing

You can store nasi kuning in the refrigerator for up to a week. Usually, it is best for a few days because the longer it stays, the drier it will become. But that can go well with many other great dishes as well! You can reheat it in the microwave or steam it over the stove to keep it moist and fresh.

What to make with tumeric rice

Traditionally in Indonesia, Nasi Kuning is a dish used during celebrations. The gold color that comes from the turmeric in the rice is a sign of good fortune or wealth. These special occasions can include weddings, the birth of a child, a new company opening up, a great achievement, and many more.

There are many other traditional dishes you can make with Nasi Kuning to complete the meal. For example, you can try some of the following:

• Kering Kentang (fried potatoes)
• Rendang (dried beef curry)
• Sayur Nangka (jackfruit curry)
• Kering Tempeh Kacang (friend tempeh and peanuts)
• Sambal with fried fish
• Perkedel Kentang (potato fritters)
• Ayam Kalasan (Javanese fried chicken)
• Kerupuk Udang (shrimp crackers)
• Cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes

However, you can serve this turmeric rice with just about anything! It tastes great alongside spicy dishes or even simple chicken and salad. The options are endless with Nasi Kuning!

Now that you know how to make Nasi Kuning, I hope you enjoy it! This is a great dish to make to accompany any meal, and it is so easy to make, you’ll want to eat it all the time!

Nasi Kuning (Indonesian Turmeric Rice)

This Nasi Kuning (Indonesian Turmeric Rice) is rich and creamy and the most authentic way to enjoy an iconic Indonesian dish. It’s easy and simple to make with delicious flavor for your next quick meal. Today, learn how to make this turmeric rice with a rice cooker, stove, and Instant Pot.

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Author: Linda Kurniadi

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
• 1 lemongrass stalk bruised and chopped
• 3 fresh pandan leaves screwpine leaves knotted together
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 kaffir lime leaves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup coconut milk
• 2½ cups water

Instructions

Stove Method

• Wash the rice in several changes of water until it runs clear. Drain with a sieve to make sure all water is drained off. Getting rid of excess starch is important or the rice will be sticky and mushy.
• Bring water and coconut milk to a boil. Add rice and the rest of the ingredients, stir to mix. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let it cook covered for 10-15 minutes. The liquid should be fully absorbed.
• Once the liquid is fully absorbed, bring heat to a complete simmer and let cook for another 5-10 minutes. The rice will dry up and become fluffy.
• Remove rice from heat and fluff with a fork.

Rice Cooker Method

• Wash the rice in several changes of water until it runs clear. Drain with a sieve to make sure all water is drained off. Getting rid of excess starch is important or the rice will be sticky and mushy.
• Add all the ingredients to your rice cooker. Mix thoroughly. Then, cook on the white rice setting. Be sure to wait 10 minutes after it is finished before fluffing the rice. Put in a bowl to shape it, and serve alongside your meal.

Instant Pot Method

• Wash the rice in several changes of water until it runs clear. Drain with a sieve to make sure all water is drained off. Getting rid of excess starch is important or the rice will be sticky and mushy.
• Add all the ingredients just like you would with the rice cooker. However, it is best to leave out the coconut milk until the very end. Mix it thoroughly, and then add the coconut milk to the top. This will help you not to have a warning or error message. Cook for 5 minutes and have a 10-minute pressure release. Then fluff, cone, and serve your rice!

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