Turmeric Rice (Nasi Kunyit)

My baby turned one month old yesterday. In Malaysia we celebrate the occasion as “Full Moon”, where usually a party is held and friends and relatives come to be introduced to the newcomer and visit the new mother (since traditionally the mother and baby are not to leave the house for a whole month!)

Nasi Kunyit or turmeric glutinous rice is usually served at one of these parties, or gets packed in boxes to be distributed to friends and relatives. It symbolises wealth (gold) to finance the child’s upbringing. It accompanies the “Red Eggs” which are just hard boiled eggs with the shells dyed red to symbolise fertility. (Even numbers for girl babies, odd numbers for boy babies). Throw in a nice chicken curry it makes a hearty meal.

Ingredients

3 cups of glutinous rice

2 tbsp turmeric powder

1 piece of dried tamarind (or use 1 tbsp of tamarind paste)

5 cloves

5 cardamom pods

400ml of coconut milk

Salt

Water

Method

1.          Wash the starch off the rice.

2.          Soak the rice in 3 cups of water, add in the turmeric powder and tamarind.

3.          Preferably soak the rice overnight or at least 4 hours.

4.          Wash off the residues, the rice should be nice and yellow by now.

5.          Add in the spices and spread the rice in a flat tray.

6.          Add the coconut milk and salt and steam the rice on high for 20-30 minutes.

Here's a baby photo.