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Nasi liwet Solo
Nasi liwet: Solo's coconut rice with shredded chicken, chayote in coconut gravy and egg
In Solo (Surakarta), Central Java, nasi liwet sellers set out at dawn with baskets of rice cooked in coconut milk and fragrant salam leaves, served on a banana leaf with shredded chicken, a mild chayote stew in coconut gravy (sayur labu siam) and a hard-boiled egg, all topped with a spoon of thick coconut cream called areh. It is a soft, gentle, savoury breakfast. The usual mistake is boiling the coconut rice too fast, which scorches the bottom before the grains are soft. Chef's tip: once the liquid is absorbed, finish the rice on the lowest heat with a clean tea towel under the lid so it steams fluffy, not wet.
- Total time
- 80 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the coconut rice
- 10 ½ oz jasmine ricerinsed until the water runs clear
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milk
- ¾ cup water
- 1 lemongrass stalkbruised
- 1 tsp salt
For the chicken
- 14 oz boneless chicken thighs
- 3 garlic clovescrushed
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tbsp palm sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ¾ cups water
For the chayote stew and to serve
- 2 chayote (labu siam)peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 3 shallotssliced
- ¾ in galangalsliced
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- 1 red chillisliced
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Put 10 ½ oz jasmine rice, 1 ¾ cups coconut milk, ¾ cup water, 3 salam leaves or bay leaves, 1 lemongrass stalk and 1 tsp salt in a heavy pan. Bring to a simmer over a medium heat, stirring once so the rice does not catch.
5 minStep 2: Cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 15 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed. Wrap the lid in a tea towel, put it back and leave on the lowest heat for 10 minutes more, then rest off the heat.
25 minStep 3: Meanwhile, simmer 14 oz boneless chicken thighs with 3 garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tbsp palm sugar, ½ tsp salt and 1 ¾ cups water for 20 minutes, turning once, until the meat reaches 165°F in the thickest part. Lift out, shred with forks and spoon over a little of the cooking liquid.
20 minStep 4: Boil 4 eggs for 9 minutes until fully set, cool in cold water and peel.
9 minStep 5: For the stew, fry 3 shallots and ¾ in galangal in 1 tbsp vegetable oil over a medium heat for 3 minutes until soft. Add 2 chayote (labu siam), ¾ cup coconut milk, 1 red chilli and ½ tsp salt and simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring gently, until the chayote is just tender and the gravy creamy. Do not let it boil hard or the coconut milk splits.
12 minStep 6: Fluff the rice, discarding the leaves and lemongrass. Serve each plate with rice, a pile of chicken, chayote stew and a halved egg.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 640 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 66 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nasi liwet Solo take?
- About 80 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of jasmine rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
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