Nasi liwet facts for kids
Nasi liwet rice dish in rich coconut milk, chicken and egg.
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | Solo, Central Java |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Rice cooked in rich coconut milk surrounded with side dishes |
Nasi liwet is a super tasty Indonesian rice dish. It comes from a city called Solo in Central Java, Indonesia. Unlike regular steamed rice, nasi liwet is cooked in rich coconut milk, chicken broth, and special spices like salam leaves and lemongrass. This makes the rice very flavorful and fragrant!
It's a traditional way of cooking rice for the Javanese. There's also a different version called Nasi Liwet Sunda from West Java. This one has its own unique taste and is often eaten together with friends or family on banana leaves, a tradition called ngeliwet or botram.
How Nasi Liwet is Served
Nasi liwet usually comes with yummy toppings. You'll find a slice of omelette and shredded chicken on top. The chicken is also cooked in coconut milk, making it extra delicious. There's also a spoonful of thick, creamy coconut sauce called kumut.
This special rice dish is served with other side dishes too. These include opor ayam, which is tender chicken in a mild white coconut milk sauce. You might also get telur pindang, which are eggs slowly boiled with spices. Other common sides are tempeh and labu siam (chayote) as a vegetable.
Traditionally, nasi liwet is cooked in a clay pot. Cooking it over a wood fire can make it taste even better! It's often served on a banana leaf or a teak leaf instead of a plate. Many people like teak leaves because they add a natural, pleasant smell to the food. All the side dishes for nasi liwet usually have coconut milk in them too.
Where and When People Enjoy Nasi Liwet
In Solo, nasi liwet is a popular choice for breakfast. But you can also enjoy it for lunch or supper. In some areas, like Keprabon in Surakarta, nasi liwet is mostly served at night for supper.
You can find similar rice dishes made with coconut milk in other parts of Indonesia. For example, there's nasi uduk from Betawi cuisine, nasi gurih from Acehnese cuisine, and nasi lemak from Malay cuisine. Each of these has its own special twist!
