Nasi Lemak 椰槳飯 Coconut Rice With Side Dishes － "Malaysian Monday 14"

Nasi lemak (literally means fat/creamy rice in Malay) is a popular dish in Malaysia and Singapore. Fragrant rice cooked with coconut milk, pandan leaf and aromatics is served alongside a selection of dishes or condiments. Although it is traditionally a breakfast dish; one can easily find this delicious dish at most hours, be it at the roadside stalls or fancy restaurants these days. To call a dish so loved by all races in Malaysia a national dish is quite fitting I think. t sadden me to read about how there is a small group of people who are constantly trying to upset the racial harmony so cherished by the majority of my fellow Malaysians. I decided to do my part by writing a pantun (Malay poem) to counter all the negativities...please excuse my rather rusty Malay! (there is a rough translation st the end of the post;

Nasi lemak warisan kebangsaan kita

Sarapan yang terkenal sampai ke luar negeri

Mutu, Mei Ling dan Wati berkongsi semeja

Semangat Muhibbah membakar tanpa disedari

Sambal udang, telur and buncis tanpa kerang

Rendang, kari dan ikan bilis boleh ditambahi

Walaupun orangnya jauh diseberang

Tradisi dan adat tidak pernah dilupai

serves 4

for the nasi lemak (coconut rice)

you will need;

500 g of jasmine rice, washed, rinsed and drained

1 pandan leaf, knotted

3 cm piece of ginger, sliced

2 shallots, sliced

1 star anise

5 cloves

200 ml of coconut milk

water

1 tsp of salt

side dishes;

1 cucumber, sliced

4 hard boiled eggs, halved

1 cup of anchovies, fried til crispy

sambal prawns

suitable dishes from the blog;

Malaysian chicken curry

rendang beef

Malay soy sauce chicken

Malay spiced beef

sambal eggs

spice stuffed mackeral

Place all ingredients for coconut rice into the rice cooker. Add enough water and cook as one would with plain rice.

When the rice is done, remove pandan leaf and spices. This is now ready to be served with side dishes of your choice.

Hard boiled eggs and cucumber slices - compulsory

Crispy anchovies (ikan bilis) - compulsory

A sambal dish is also a must, I made a sambal prawns (sambal udang).

I also made a stir fried green beans with garlic and chili. Often blood cockles (kerang) are added too.

Serve the fragrant coconut rice with the condiments and you will have a very memorable one dish meal ready.

Mix well and enjoy!

The following the the rough translation of the pantun (poem);

Nasi lemak is our national heritage

A popular breakfast dish that is well known all over the world

Mutu, Mei Ling and Wati sharing a table

The spirit of muhibbah* is burning without being noticed

Sambal prawns, egg and fried beans without cockles

Rendang, curry and anchovies can also be added

Although I am thousand miles away

Traditions and costums have not been forgotten

* the spirit of goodwill and tolerance

I will be hosting the October event. Please send all your delicious entries to me at sureshchong@yahoo.com. To find out more please click HERE.