Nasi goreng (Indonesian stir-fried rice)

• long-grain rice↗300g g
• vegetable oil↗3 tbsp tbsp
• large eggs↗4

  beaten

• fine green beans↗100g g

  cut in half

• chicken breasts↗2

  cut into small even chunks

• pack large raw peeled prawns180g g

  cut in half

• shallots↗200g g

  thinly sliced

• garlic↗20g g

  finely chopped

• 2 medium-hot red chillies↗

  deseeded and finely chopped

• red bird's-eye chilli↗1

  sliced

• medium carrot↗1

  thinly sliced

• quantity Balinese spice paste↗1

  (see recipe in 'goes well with'

• tomato purée↗1 tbsp tbsp
• kecap manis↗1 tbsp tbsp

  (Indonesian sweet soy sauce)

• light soy sauce↗1 tbsp tbsp
• spring onions↗8

  thinly sliced

• cucumber↗½

  sliced

• medium tomatoes↗2

  sliced

• crispy fried onions4 tbsp
• prawn cracker

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Put the rice in a medium heavy-based saucepan and add 520ml water. Quickly bring to the boil, stir once and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 mins. Uncover, fluff up with a fork and spread over a tray. Set aside to cool.

2. 2

   Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Pour in the beaten egg and, as it begins to cook, use a spatula to bring large flakes of cooked egg into the middle of the omelette. Continue to cook like this for a couple of mins, then leave the rest of the egg to set completely. Flip the omelette over and transfer to a plate to cool before cutting it into long, thin shreds.

3. 3

   Drop the beans into a pan of boiling salted water and cook for 3 mins. Drain, refresh under cold water and set aside.

4. 4

   Heat the remaining oil in a wok or large, deep frying pan until almost smoking. Add the chicken and prawns, and stir-fry for 1 min. Tip in the shallots, garlic, chillies and carrots, and stir-fry for a further 2 mins until the carrot is just tender. Add the spice paste and stir-fry for 1 min more. Add the tomato purée, kecap manis, cooked rice and green beans, and stir-fry over a high heat for 2 mins. Add the soy sauce, spring onions and shredded omelette, and toss together.

5. 5

   Spoon the nasi goreng onto warmed plates. Overlap the cucumber and tomato on the side of each plate, sprinkle over the crispy fried onions and serve with prawn crackers.