Nasi goreng is often referred to as the Indonesian version of fried rice. Although it is considered to be the national dish of Indonesia, it is also commonly eaten in Malaysia and Singapore. It is believed that the tradition of frying rice in Indonesia came from the Chinese culture, when the trade between the two countries started to develop.
Indonesians adopted the Chinese tradition based on the belief that it is sinful to waste food, and soon, like many other versions of fried rice, nasi goreng was created. Since it was developed out of a practical need, it is usually eaten for breakfast and made with leftover rice from the previous day.
Precooked rice is usually fried in a small amount of oil, then spiced up with shallots, garlic, chili, or ginger. Indonesian fried rice is distinguished by the generous use of sweet soy sauce, and because of that, it has a deeper and spicier flavor than other varieties of fried rice.