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Vegetarian, South and Southeast Asian

Lontong sayur (rice cakes in coconut vegetable curry)

Lontong sayur is a Javanese dish for 4 people that pairs firm rice cakes with a coconut vegetable curry, golden tofu, and a hard boiled egg. It takes 50 minutes and a medium skill level, mostly for shaping the rice into a tight log. It costs about €1.80 per person. Success comes down to overcooking the rice just enough so the grains stick together.

Tonight we're heading to Java with lontong sayur, tender rice cakes bathed in a coconut vegetable curry, topped with a hard boiled egg and a little sambal.

Lontong sayur (rice cakes in coconut vegetable curry)
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.80
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Lontong sayur starts with a texture that catches you off guard, firm yet tender rice cakes sitting in a creamy coconut vegetable broth. Cabbage and carrots bring crunch, golden tofu adds a different bite, and turmeric turns the whole dish a warm yellow. The sambal, served on the side, lets everyone control their own heat.

It's a weeknight dish that breaks the routine, manageable despite its several steps, and it works well for kids if you go easy on the chili. It suits a longer weeknight dinner just as much as a shared Sunday meal, since it eats like a soup and reheats easily.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Short grain riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Coconut milkoften in the pantry 40 cl
  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Sambal oelek 1 tbsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • White cabbage 300 g
  • Carrots 2
  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves

Dairy

  • Firm tofu 200 g
  • Eggs 4

Allergens Eggs, Soy

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the rice in 60 cl of salted water until fully absorbed, then pack it hot into a tight log using plastic wrap. 25 min

    Overcooked short grain rice sticks between the grains, which is what holds the lontong together.

  2. Let the log cool and hard boil the eggs. 10 min

    Drop the eggs into cold water right after cooking, the shell comes off on its own.

  3. Brown the diced tofu in oil, set it aside, then cook the chopped onion and garlic with the turmeric.

    Don't stir the tofu too soon, a golden crust forms and it keeps its shape.

  4. Add the cabbage and carrots in strips, pour in the coconut milk and 20 cl of water, and let it simmer. 15 min

    Don't let it boil hard, the coconut milk would split.

  5. Slice the lontong, arrange it in bowls, ladle the curry over it, add the tofu, the egg cut in half, and a touch of sambal.

    Serve the sambal on the side so everyone controls their own heat.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use short grain rice specifically, long grain rice stays too dry and won't bind enough to hold its shape once sliced.
  • Wrap the rice log tightly in plastic wrap, a loose log will give you slices that fall apart.
  • Make the curry right before serving, coconut milk loses its texture if it sits on the heat too long.

The variations

  • Swap the tofu for shredded chicken for a non vegetarian version, added near the end of the curry's cooking time.
  • For a faster version, use store bought cooked rice reheated, skipping the step of shaping the log.
  • For kids, serve the curry without sambal and offer the chili on the side for the adults.

What to serve it with

  • Hot unsweetened green tea
  • Crispy shrimp crackers
  • Fresh sliced cucumber

Storage

The vegetable curry keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container and freezes well if you leave out the final coconut milk addition. The rice log keeps for 2 days wrapped in the fridge. Reheat the curry gently over low heat, stirring, without letting it boil.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different type of rice?

Short grain rice matters because it naturally sticks together as it cooks. Basmati or long grain rice won't hold its shape once sliced and cooled.

Can I make lontong ahead of time?

Yes, the rice log can be made the day before and kept wrapped in the fridge. The vegetable curry also tastes great reheated the next day.

Can I replace the tofu with something else?

Tempeh or chickpeas work well to keep this vegetarian. Shredded chicken also fits if you're not after a meat free dish.

How do I adjust the spice level for kids?

Serve the sambal oelek in a small bowl on the side instead of mixing it into the curry. Everyone can add the amount they want directly to their own plate.

How long does it take to make a lontong sayur?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a lontong sayur?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a lontong sayur cost?

About €1.80 per serving, or €7.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs, soy. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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