Malaysia Nasi Lemak Recipe

Malaysia Nasi Lemak Recipe

Today, I decided to cook Malaysia's Nasi Lemak (Fragrant Steamed Rice With Coconut Milk). The most versatile rice recipe in my opinion, the Malaysia Nasi Lemak can be as simple as you want it to be to as intricate as you are willing to slave over the stove for. 

The Nasi Lemak or the rice recipe is the same but the accompaniment vary from the basic, boiled eggs, fried anchovies and peanuts and plain sambal to fried chicken wings / chicken rendang, sambal sotong (chili squids) sambal udang (chili prawns) and so on. 

My simple Malaysia Nasi Lemak consists of the steamed rice, chili prawns, fried chicken and egg sunny side up. 

Recipe for the Malaysia Nasi Lemak:

2 cups rice - preferably Basmathi
2 cups fresh coconut milk
1/2 cup water
1 stalk of pandan leaf - shredded
1.5 inch sliced ginger
1 tablespoon cooking oil (this give some shine to the Nasi Lemak)
salt to taste.

How to cook Nasi Lemak:

1. Soak the basmathi rice beforehand as per instructions (usually between 30 minutes - 1 hour)

2. Heat up the coconut milk, water, pandan leaf, oil and salt over low fire just until the mixture slightly bubbles (take care to stir constantly and not to overheat else the coconut milk will separate into small clusters). 

3.  Drain the water that you used to soak the rice, add in the hot coconut milk mixture and compare the liquid with your rice cooking requirement whether it requires 1:1 water to rice or less/more and adjust as such)

Recipe for the Nasi Lemak Sambal (Chili Prawn):

10 stalk dried red chilies (cut, de-seeded and pre-boil first)
1 medium sized onion
4 cloves garlic
1.5 tbsp belacan (dried shrimp paste)
(blend all of the above)
2 tbsp tamarind diluted in water (add in bit by bit to suit your taste)
3 - 4 tbsp sugar (adjust according to your preference)
fresh prawns
salt to taste

Heat up the saucepan with some oil and sautee the blended ingredients. Add in the tamarind juice and sugar according to your sour (tamarind juice) and sweet (sugar) preference.  Simmer till chili turns dark red and oil has a reddish tint. Add in the prawns and salt.

(Note if you still find the sambal to be a bit too hot, add in some more sliced onions)

If you like, you can also add kangkung belacan as accompaniment.

My Simple Nasi Lemak Recipe

Recipe for kangkung belacan:

4 fresh red chili
4 cloves garlic
1 small onion
2 tbsp dried shrimps
1.5 tbsp belacan
(blend all of the above)
1 tsp sugar
some tamarind juice (about 1-2 tbsp of tamarind juice not the tamarind itself)
300gm kangkung

Heat up the pan and sautee all the blended ingredients, ad din a bit of water and let it simmer for a bit then add in the kangkung.

Recipe for fried chicken (for 5 mid joints):
1 medium sized onion
4 clove garlic
1.5 inch ginger
2 stalk lemongrass - thinly sliced
2 tbsp red chili powder
1 tbsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1 tsp fennel seed powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp cornflour
some salt to taste
curry leaves about 2 stalk

Blend everything together (except for the curry leaves) and marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours. Deep fry till golden and crispy.


Note: You can also add in fried peanuts and anchovies and sliced cucumber at the side.

Happy trying!