This Malay-inspired sambal fried rice is savory, tasty, and flavorful with a nice kick coming from sambal oelek. It is quick to make, ready in 15 minutes, and only calls for simple ingredients. The perfect easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love!
If you are looking to try out something different other than the plain old veggie fried rice, this nasi goreng sambal is perfect for you! It is bold, savory and jam-packed with Asian flavors. You will definitely be hooked!
Although this sambal fried rice is only mildly spicy, I know that it might not be suitable for everyone. However, you can check out my tofu egg fried rice. It is free from spices, yet equally flavorsome and tasty!
💚Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy to make - All you need is a handful of pantry ingredients and 15 minutes to make this sambal fried rice. The perfect meal to make after a long tiring day of work.
- A crowd pleaser - This recipe will impress even the pickiest of eaters! It is delicious, flavorful and bold in flavor. Don't worry, this dish is only mildly spicy and you can even reduce amount of sambal used according to personal preference.
- Versatile - This nasi goreng sambal seriously goes well with almost anything! It is also great on its own.
- Freezable - Make a large batch and freeze portions of it so you will have something to grab and reheat during busy times or for days you don't feel like cooking.
🍚The best rice for frying
Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent your fried rice from turning mushy and clumpy:
- Use medium or long grain rice - Basmati, brown rice, and Jasmine rice are some varieties that are perfect for frying as they fluff up perfectly without turning mushy.
- Rinse rice thoroughly before cooking - This helps remove excess starch on the rice that causes it to clump together more. I usually rinse my rice at least 3 times or until the water is no longer cloudy.
- Cooking rice -I suggest following the cooking instructions on the package when preparing rice, as the water ratio and cooking time can vary depending on the type of rice. If the rice turns out overly soft, it's likely that too much water was added. Make a note of this and use less water next time.
- Drying them - Typically, fried rice recipes suggest using day-old rice, but freshly cooked rice is also a suitable option! The key is to spread it out on a large plate immediately after cooking and pop them into the freezer for 10-15 minutes to dry them out.
- Breaking them up - If using refrigerated rice, remember to break clumps of rice using your hands before adding it to the pan.
🧅What you will need
📃Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Rice - I am using brown rice here, but any medium or long grain rice will work in this recipe. It is recommended to use day old rice. If using freshly cooked rice, spread it out on a large plate and let it cool down completely before using.
- Sambal oelek - A paste that is made from ground red chilies. The next best substitute is sriracha.
- Oyster sauce - Use vegetarians ones to keep this dish vegan. If you do not have it on hand, feel free to use more soy sauce in place.
- I am using Lee Kum Kee ones. Although it is labelled as '' stir-fry sauce'', it is essentially vegetarian oyster sauce, and contains mushroom extracts.
- Feel free to substitute it with more soy sauce, but you might need less of it.
- Soy sauce - Can be substituted with tamari or shoyu. Use certified gluten-free ones if needed.
- Coconut sugar - Can be substituted with other granulated sugar like brown sugar or cane sugar.
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How to make
Here is a quick rundown of the processes involved to make nasi goreng sambal. The full detailed instructions will be in the recipe card below.
In a bowl, combine together all seasonings and mix well.
Heat up a cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan and saute onion until translucent. Next, stir in garlic and saute until fragrant.
Add in carrot cubes and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until they have softened slightly. Then, add in cooked rice along with sauce.
Saute for 3-4 minutes, or until rice is warmed. Remove from heat and stir in chopped green onion, if using. It is now ready to be served.
✔Helpful tips
- Prep all ingredients ahead of time and keep them near you. Frying rice is a fairly quick process and requires constant stirring.
- Use a large enough pan. This ensure everything is cooked properly and also helps avoid ingredients from leaping out and causing a mess. You can even use a wok if you have one.
- Go light on liquid seasonings. If you find that nasi goreng sambal is still not salty enough after adding in the stir-fry sauce, season with salt instead of adding more soy sauce. Too much moisture might cause fried rice to turn mushy.
- Adjust amount of sambal oelek used according to your preference. Add less to make it less spicy, or more to dial up the heat!
🍢How to serve
As mentioned above, this Malay sambal fried rice is incredibly versatile and will pair well with anything. Below are some serving suggestions, but go ahead and serve it with anything that sounds good to you!
- Toppings and condiments - Sambal, pickled chilies, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, or vegan fried egg / normal fried egg, if not vegan.
- Asian side dishes - Sambal tempeh, tofu satay , vegan orange chicken, curry tofu scramble will go wonderfully with this dish.
- Veggie soup - It is fairly common to serve rice and noodles dishes with clear broth soups here in Malaysia. You can cook some vegetable tofu soup, napa cabbage soup or this Chinese spinach soup.
❄Storing instructions
Fridge - Store leftover nasi goreng sambal in a sealed container before refrigerating to prevent it from drying out. It will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer - Portion fried rice out into individual servings before freezing. That way, you will only be taking out what you need. You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheating - If reheating from frozen, let it thaw overnight in the fridge, or on the countertop for a few hours. Once sambal fried rice had completely thawed, heat it up on the stove until it is thoroughly warmed. You might need to add a splash of water if the mixture appears dry.
You can also reheat it in the microwave by first thawing it using the 'defrost' function, before proceeding with heating on high for a minute or so.
❔Commonly asked questions
Most store-bought sambal oelek is naturally vegan, as they are normally only made from plant ingredients like red chilies, shallots, garlic, and vinegar. However, it is still recommended that you read the ingredient list before purchasing to ensure that no animal products like shrimp paste are added.
If you do not have sambal oelek on hand, substitute it with equal amounts of sriracha. You could also use a few teaspoons of red chili flakes or red pepper flakes.
Leftover nasi goreng can be frozen for up to 3 months. Portion them up into individual servings before freezing so you will only be taking out what you need.
📖 Recipe
Malay Sambal Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng Sambal)
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 2-3 tablespoons sambal oelek
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce *
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Other ingredients
- ½ medium yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium carrot diced
- 3 cups cooked rice refrigerate overnight (see notes)**
- 1 stalk green onion chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Mix together all ingredients needed for the sauce. Mix until everything is well combined.
- In a cast iron skillet or non-stick pan, heat up a tablespoon or so of neutral tasting oil over medium high heat. Once pan is heated, add in onion and saute until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.½ medium yellow onion
- Next, stir in garlic and cook for another minute or so until fragrant.3 cloves garlic
- Add in carrot cubes and cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until they have softened slightly.1 medium carrot
- Now, add in cooked rice along with sauce. Saute for 3-4 minutes, or until rice is warmed.3 cups cooked rice
- Remove from heat and stir in chopped green onion. Add some salt to taste, if needed.1 stalk green onion
Notes
- I am using Lee Kum Kee ones. Although it is labelled as '' stir-fry sauce'', it is essentially vegetarian oyster sauce, and contains mushroom extracts.
- Feel free to substitute it with more soy sauce, but you might need less of it.
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Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
Lori says
So, my family loves my "grandma" style fried rice, and messing with the recipe is forbidden. I had to make a smaller batch of the Malay Sambal Fried Rice for a trial, when I made regular fried rice. There was not one grain of rice leftover. So delicious and easy. A new family favorite 😍
Meesha says
I am so happy to hear that!!