TIMES JAZIRAH, BANYUWANGI – Yellow rice  or what the local community called as Nasi Kuning is so popular that it becomes one of the most favorite menus for breakfast and also become a component of signature dishes of various restaurants. This dish is cooked with various traditional spices which makes it so rich in taste. 

It is commonly served with various choices of side dishes that are also cooked with lots of spices, which makes it even more delicious. Even for someone who just taste it for the first time, this dish will be splendid.

Sri Astutik, an owner of a traditional café in the city center of Banyuwangi. (Photo:Ahmad Sahroni/ TIMES Indonesia)

Almost in every hotel, restaurant, traditional café, and eatery offer this food in their menu with a wide variations of side dishes. With such a premium taste that is available at relatively affordable price, the cone shape dish can be found easily even amongst the street food vendors in Indonesia.

The Nature of Yellow Rice

This dish is commonly served as breakfast with choices of side dishes such as shredded chicken, egg, dry sambal goring tempeh, fried noodles, and sambal. Such expansive possibilities of combination of side dishes explain why the food is considered as one of, if not the most favored traditional meal that is available at a reasonable price.

The yellow color comes from turmeric that is used during the cooking process. People nowadays also add more additions during the cooking process to enrich its taste, such as salt, MSG, lemongrass, bay leaves, and coconut milk that gives the rice a moist texture and fragrant smell.

The Ultimate Taste of Yellow Rice of Banyuwangi

One of the traditional café owners in Banyuwangi, Sri Astutik explained that the dish is a one of a kind experience for traditional foods in Indonesia. Different to its more common counterpart, the white rice, this processed version of the common rice has a rich taste, with moist texture, and comes with an appetizing fragrant aroma. 

She also serves this yellow commonly cone shape rice in her traditional café, complete with many choices of side dishes. “Our signature menu is the yellow rice. Most customers come to our place looking for a complete serving of this dish with all of its toppings,” said Sri Astutik on Tuesday (13/12/2022).

Sri Astutik also explained that the food has become far more affordable than it was years before. Originally, this exotic dish was only served during special occasions in Java and Bali. The bright yellow color symbolizes gold that is believed to bring abundant fortune for anyone who take a bite.

“Nowadays, you can enjoy yellow rice almost everywhere. Not only during special occasions but you can also find it in almost any traditional restaurants every day,” said Sri Astutik.

“Our daily customers, both the regulars or the new ones always come for our this dish,” Astutik added. 

It really is a perfect choice for a meal for any culinary lovers. Moreover, yellow rice or nasi kuning also comes at a relatively low price yet with a premium taste, it should be registered as one of the world wonders at this point.