Nasi kuning is a fragrant rice which is usually served as part of an Indonesian meal. This delicious yellow rice is flavoured with lemongrass and turmeric. It’s a must try!
Made by Véronique
Published at 2022-01-19, this recipe is for 4 persons and takes 30 minutes.
Founder of Ohmydish (since 2014), she prefers to spend all day in the kitchen. Once working in the hospitality industry as an independent chef, she loves helping you gain confidence in the kitchen. With her easy-to-follow recipes, handy tips, and cooking knowledge, you'll make the most delicious dishes yourself! The recipes are accessible to everyone, from beginners to advanced home cooks.
Updated at: 2025-09-28
wash the rice in cold water, this prevents the rice from sticking too much while cooking.
tie a knot in the lemongrass stalk, or crush it with something heavy so that the flavours can be better released.
bring 700 ml along with 200 ml coconut milk, lemongrass, bay leaves and the kaffir lime leaves to a boil.
once the water is boiling, add the rice along with 1 tablespoon of turmeric and half a teaspoon of salt.
turn the heat down to medium-low and simmer without a lid for around 10 to 15 minutes. The water should be fully absorbed by the rice.
once the water has been fully absorbed, reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 5 minutes or so to allow the rice to fully dry.
use a fork to fluff up the rice, and remove the kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves and lemongrass. Serve the rice as a side dish or as part of a more elaborate indonesian meal. Enjoy!
When is nasi kuning eaten?
Nasi kuning (also known as nasi koening, nasi koenjit, or nasi kunyit), is usually served as part of a large Indonesian meal, during festive occasions. The yellow colour symbolises happiness and a new beginning.
It is served as a small tower of rice, called a tumpeng. This tower represents a mountain, which asks the gods for their blessing.
Which rice is best for nasi kuning?
You can use different types of rice for nasi kuning, but Jasmine rice is the most suitable because of its aromatic flavour.
Can I cook nasi kuning in a rice cooker?
You can make nasi kuning in a pan on the hob, in a rice cooker, or even in an instant pot.
What does it taste like?
Nasi kuning tastes of aromatic spices, but is mild. The aromatic flavour comes from the use of sereh (lemongrass), djeroek poeroet (kaffir lime leaves) and kunyit (turmeric). The coconut milk gives this yellow rice a delicately delicious flavour.
Per 1 serving / piece:
| Amount | Ingredient | Allergens | Kcal | Carbs | Carbs of which sugars | Fat | Fat of which saturated | Protein | Fibers | Sodium | Iron | Calcium | Magnesium | Potassium | Phosphorus | Copper | Zinc | Iodine | Selenium | Vitamin C | Vitamin D | Vitamin A | Vitamin B1 | Vitamin B2 | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin B12 | Vitamin B11 | Vitamin E | Vitamin K | Vitamin K1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 | gram | rice | 72.00 | 15.00 g | - | 0.30 g | 0.08 g | 1.88 g | 0.60 g | 2.25 mg | 0.22 mg | 4.50 mg | 7.50 mg | 45.00 mg | 30.00 mg | 0.05 mg | 0.38 mg | - | - | - | - | - | 0.02 mg | 0.02 mg | 0.08 mg | - | 15.00 µg | - | - | - | |
| 0.25 | tablespoon | turmeric | 6.56 | 0.77 g | 0.04 g | 0.39 g | 0.03 g | 0.31 g | 0.18 g | 2.94 mg | 1.16 mg | 16.29 mg | 6.41 mg | 31.29 mg | 8.73 mg | 0.02 mg | 0.08 mg | 0.19 µg | 0.07 µg | 0.13 mg | - | - | 0.01 mg | 0.01 mg | 0.01 mg | - | 0.18 µg | 0.06 mg | 0.09 µg | - | |
| 0.25 | stalk | lemongrass | 4.95 | 1.27 g | 0.09 g | 0.03 g | 0.01 g | 0.09 g | 0.09 g | 0.30 mg | 0.40 mg | 3.25 mg | 3.00 mg | 36.15 mg | 2.20 mg | 0.01 mg | 0.03 mg | - | 0.03 µg | 0.13 mg | - | 2.50 mg | 0.01 mg | 0.01 mg | 0.01 mg | - | 3.75 µg | 0.03 mg | 1.09 µg | - | |
| 0.5 | bay leaves | 1.57 | 0.36 g | - | 0.04 g | 0.01 g | 0.04 g | 0.13 g | 0.25 mg | 0.22 mg | 4.17 mg | 0.60 mg | 2.65 mg | 0.57 mg | - | - | - | - | 0.23 mg | - | - | - | - | 0.01 mg | - | 0.90 µg | 0.04 mg | - | - | ||
| 0.75 | kaffir lime leaves | 0.32 | 0.07 g | - | - | - | 0.03 g | 0.02 g | 0.46 mg | 0.01 mg | 0.35 mg | 0.16 mg | 7.71 mg | 0.36 mg | - | - | - | - | 0.97 mg | - | 45.75 mg | - | - | - | - | 0.97 µg | - | - | - | ||
| 0.25 | tsp | salt | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 600.00 mg | - | 0.15 mg | 4.35 mg | 0.08 mg | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 50 | ml | coconut milk | 104.00 | 1.50 g | - | 10.75 g | 9.25 g | 0.75 g | - | 7.50 mg | 1.75 mg | 10.00 mg | 22.50 mg | 110.00 mg | 50.00 mg | 0.10 mg | 0.25 mg | - | - | 1.00 mg | - | - | 0.01 mg | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 175 | ml | water | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 189.40 | 18.96 g | 0.12 g | 11.51 g | 9.37 g | 3.10 g | 1.03 g | 613.70 mg | 3.76 mg | 38.71 mg | 44.51 mg | 232.87 mg | 91.86 mg | 0.18 mg | 0.75 mg | 0.19 µg | 0.12 µg | 2.46 mg | - | 48.25 mg | 0.05 mg | 0.03 mg | 0.10 mg | - | 20.79 µg | 0.13 mg | 1.18 µg | - | ||||
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