In addition to being the #3 producer of coffee, Indonesia is also the #3 producer of rice, or nasi. Rice is the central food of Indonesian cuisine, and a meal without rice is considered a light snack. This dependence on rice as a base for almost all meals consumed by Indonesians of all classes, and the growing rice cultivation industry that has been developing for at least 1500 years, is reflected in the Indonesian language by a rich vocabulary of words related to the crop:
Padi - rice in the field/as a growing plant
The rice terraces in Bali featured in this photo are likely fed by Subak, a complex irrigation system which originated on the island in the 9th century CE and feeds many rice fields from one source, usually designated with a water temple. It is a cooperative system, and inhabitants of Bali work together to keep the water in the many canals and aqueducts that make up Subak flowing.
Gabah - unhusked, raw rice grains
Beras - raw, uncooked rice as one buys from a pasar 'market'
Nasi - cooked rice (in this case topped with bawang goreng 'fried onions' on a plate of nasi campur 'mixed rice')
There are other forms of cooked rice in addition to plain steamed rice, including (but certainly not limited to):
Nasi Uduk - 'mixed rice' in Betawi dialect - rice cooked in coconut milk, clove, lemongrass, cinnamon and pandan leaf.
Nasi Kuning - 'yellow rice' - rice cooked in coconut milk, tumeric, lemongrass and pandan leaf
Ketupat Nasi - 'rice diamond' - rice cooked in a woven packet made of palm leaves
Lontong Nasi - 'rice cake' - rice cooked wrapped in banana leaves
Rengginang - meaning unknown - sweet sticky rice flattened into a disk, sun-dried, then fried
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