breakfastMalaysian

Nasi Lemak

Name: Nasi Lemak
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Malaysian
Ingredients: 500 g Jasmine rice; 400 ml Coconut milk; 2 pieces Pandan leaves; 30 g Ginger; 15 pieces Dried chillies; 8 pieces Shallots; 5 cloves Garlic; 2 tsp Belacan shrimp paste; 2 tbsp Tamarind paste; 2 tbsp Palm sugar; 100 g Dried anchovies; 100 g Peanuts; 5 pieces Eggs; 1 piece Cucumber; 150 ml Vegetable oil; To taste Salt

Nasi Lemak is a classic Malaysian breakfast that holds a distinguished place in traditional cooking. Celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and time-honored preparation, this dish brings authentic regional character to the home kitchen.

Carefully prepared featuring Jasmine rice, Coconut milk, Pandan leaves, Ginger, Dried chillies, Shallots, Garlic, Belacan shrimp paste, Tamarind paste, Palm sugar, Dried anchovies, Peanuts, Eggs and Cucumber, the ingredients are simmered and seasoned to achieve a satisfying depth of flavor. The cooking process allows natural aromas to develop, ensuring each portion is both hearty and flavorful.

Serve hot alongside fresh bread, steamed grains, or a crisp seasonal salad for a well-rounded dining experience.

If you enjoy authentic Malaysian cooking, be sure to also explore our recipe for Apam Balik.

Difficulty: mediumPrep: 35 minCook: 50 minServes 5

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Ingredients

Jasmine rice500 g
Coconut milk400 ml
Pandan leaves2 pieces
Ginger30 g
Dried chillies15 pieces
Shallots8 pieces
Garlic5 cloves
Belacan shrimp paste2 tsp
Tamarind paste2 tbsp
Palm sugar2 tbsp
Dried anchovies100 g
Peanuts100 g
Eggs5 pieces
Cucumber1 piece
Vegetable oil150 ml
SaltTo taste

Step-by-Step Instructions

7 steps

Interactive Cook Mode: Click any step or circle to check it off as you cook.

Step 1

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear and cover it with coconut milk let down with water, salt and pandan.

Step 2

Add slices of ginger and cook covered for fifteen minutes, then let it stand ten.

Step 3🥄 Mix

Soak the dried chillies in boiling water for twenty minutes and blend them with the shallot, garlic and belacan.

Step 4🍳 Fry

Fry the paste in oil for twenty minutes over medium heat, until oil breaks out at the edges.

Step 5

Add the tamarind, palm sugar and salt and cook the sambal ten minutes more to thicken it.

Step 6♨️ Boil

Fry the anchovies and peanuts separately until crisp and hard-boil the eggs.

Step 7

Build the plate: a mound of rice, a spoon of sambal, anchovies, peanuts, half an egg and cucumber slices.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Culinary Notes

Cultural Heritage

Nasi Lemak carries a rich culinary tradition rooted in regional home cooking. Developed over generations, the recipe highlights wholesome local ingredients prepared with time-honored kitchen techniques.

Dietary Substitutions

If you need to accommodate dietary restrictions, jasmine rice can be substituted with an equivalent volume of seasonal vegetables, legumes, or a protein alternative of your preference.

Chef Technique Tips

Season in stages rather than all at once at the end. Salting components as they cook draws out excess moisture, intensifies natural sugars, and builds harmonious depth of flavor throughout the dish.

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