Nasi uduk


Nasi uduk is an Indonesian Betawi style steamed rice cooked in coconut milk dish, originally from Jakarta, that can be widely found across the country.

Etymology

Nasi uduk literally means "mixed rice" in Betawi dialect, related with Indonesian term aduk. The name describes the dish preparation itself which requires more ingredients than cooking common steamed rice and additional side dishes.

Preparation

Nasi uduk is made by cooking rice soaked in coconut milk instead of water, along with clove, cassia bark, and lemongrass to add aroma. Sometimes knotted pandan leaves are thrown into the rice while steaming to give it more fragrance. The coconut milk and spices imparts an oily, rich taste to the rice. Bawang goreng is sprinkled on top of the rice before serving. Other dishes are usually served as side dishes. Pre-packed nasi uduk are commonly wrapped in a cone-shaped banana leaf.

Side dishes

Nasi uduk sold in warung or other eating establishments are commonly offered with assortment of side dishes, chosen by the client. The pre-packed basic nasi uduk usually consists of tempe orek, teri kacang, and shredded omelette, with sambal kacang.
Side dishes offered with nasi uduk are:
The most common type of sambal that usually served with nasi uduk is sambal kacang ; it is optional as a condiment.

Popularity

Nasi uduk is a popular dish for the busy commuters in Jakarta, mainly because it is affordable. It can be found throughout the day; some roadside stalls open exclusively in the morning, noon, or night, depending on the demographics of the surrounding area. Stalls near residential areas, marketplaces, train stations, and schools are usually open from morning to noon, while the ones near offices and street-side are usually open afternoon to midnight.

Variants

Each neighbourhood in Jakarta has its own variant of the dish, the most notable being Nasi uduk Slipi from West Jakarta. Kebon Kacang area near Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta is renowned for its nasi uduk.
The dish is known as berkat in Suriname. There are similar dishes in Riau and Riau islands, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Southern Thailand called nasi lemak. Another slightly different dish is nasi ulam.