Nasi Susu is a traditional Sri Lankan specialty food made on special occasions or for breakfast on the first day of the month. Some Sri Lankans believe that this is good luck food. This dish is easy to make and very tasty. This recipe is for three servings.
Ingredients
- 500 gr brown rice or white rice
- A pinch of salt
- 3 cups of water
- 1 cup coconut milk (can use cow's milk instead)
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cooking Rice
Step 1. Wash the rice
Clean the rice until there are no more small stones or grains of rice husk, then run cold water over the rice to rinse it. Place in a medium sized saucepan.
Step 2. Add water and salt
Pour over the rice, then cover the pot.
Step 3. Cook the rice over low-medium heat
Continue to cook the rice with the pot covered, until the rice is soft and round, and the water is completely absorbed. This takes about 15 minutes.
- Be careful not to burn the rice. If it seems that the rice is cooking too quickly, lower the heat.
- You can also cook the rice in a rice cooker. When the rice is cooked, transfer it to a saucepan before adding the milk.
Method 2 of 3: Adding Milk
Step 1. Reduce heat to low heat and add milk
Slowly pour in the milk and use a spoon to stir the milk into the rice. Make sure the heat is reduced so that the mixture boils; if the heat stays too high, you won't get the right texture of the rice.
Step 2. Simmer the rice and milk for ten minutes
Check to make sure the rice is not overcooking; if it cooks too quickly, lower the heat.
- When the rice boils, taste the rice to determine whether or not to add a little salt. Add little by little until you get the right taste.
- In Sri Lanka they don't usually add extra ingredients, but you can sweeten the dish with a little sugar or make it more savory with pepper and other spices if you like.
Step 3. Remove the pan from the stove
This dish will have a creamy, porridge-like consistency. Refrigerate for about five minutes.
Method 3 of 3: Forming Rice
Step 1. Transfer the rice to a shallow pan
A wide, flat pan has the right shape. Use a spoon to transfer all the rice into the pan and spread it evenly.
- Use a nonstick baking sheet if you have one, as the rice tends to stick to the bottom of the pan.
- If you don't have a nonstick pan, grease the bottom of the glass or metal pan with oil.
Step 2. Flatten the rice
Use the back of a wooden spoon to press the rice evenly into the plate. You can also use a spatula or a piece of parchment paper.
Step 3. Print the rice
Use a knife to print the rice diagonally in one direction, then print again diagonally in the other. This creates the classic diamond shape used by Sri Lankans to serve milk rice.
Step 4. Cut the rice
Once the rice is cool and slightly stiff, use a knife to cut it into diamond shapes. Remove the rice from the pot using a spatula and place it on a plate to serve.
- You can add a milky flavor to the dish by sprinkling the top with coconut milk after you've molded the rice.
- Nasi Susu is traditionally served with curry.
Tips
- To serve it traditionally, spread the milk rice on a tray or board one inch thick. Mix the mixture well using a cleaned banana leaf or plastic wrap.
- Experiment by adding honey, brown sugar, or chili sauce. (Sambal Chili is made with sliced onions, chili peppers, salt, and lime juice mixed together.)
