History
Nasi lemak is a dish of Malay origin. Lemak means rich, for the coconut milk the rice is soaked in and steamed with, and pandan leaves give it its flavour. It is widely eaten as breakfast, with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and boiled egg. In Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Raja Muda Musa in Kampung Baru is known for it, and Nasi Lemak Wanjo has its restaurant on that street. Nasi Lemak Tanglin at Kompleks Makan Tanglin and Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock in Chinatown, which plates nasi lemak ayam, serve their own takes.
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Common allergens: Peanuts, Fish, Egg
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 400g jasmine rice, rinsed until the water runs clear
- 250ml coconut milk
- 250ml water
- 2 pandan leaves, knotted
- 1 thumb of ginger, sliced
- 1 tsp salt
- 12 dried chillies, soaked and deseeded
- 5 shallots
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp belacan (shrimp paste), toasted
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- 1 tbsp palm sugar
- 1 red onion, sliced into rings
- 100g dried anchovies (ikan bilis)
- 100g raw peanuts
- 4 eggs
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- Vegetable oil
Method
- Put the rice, coconut milk, water, pandan, ginger and salt in a rice cooker or heavy pot and cook as you would plain rice; rest it covered for 10 minutes.
- Blend the chillies, shallots, garlic and belacan to a paste with a splash of water.
- Fry the paste in 4 tbsp oil over medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring, until it darkens and the oil separates.
- Add the tamarind, palm sugar and onion rings, simmer 5 minutes and season with salt.
- Fry the anchovies and then the peanuts separately in 2cm of oil until crisp, and drain.
- Boil the eggs for 8 minutes or fry them sunny side up.
- Plate a mound of rice with a spoon of sambal, anchovies, peanuts, egg and cucumber.
Tip from the editors. Cook the sambal until the oil splits away; an undercooked paste tastes raw and harsh.
Where to eat nasi lemak
Nasi Lemak in Kuala Lumpur
Nasi Lemak Wanjo ★ 4.2
Nasi Lemak Wanjo is a Malaysian restaurant at 8 Jalan Raja Muda Musa in Kampung Baru, open daily from 06:00 to midnight.
Nasi Lemak Tanglin ★ 4.2
Nasi Lemak Tanglin is at Jalan Cenderasari, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Nasi Lemak Famous ★ 3.8
Nasi Lemak Famous serves Malay food at Jalan Telawi 4 in Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock ★ 4.0
Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock is a cafe at 13 Jalan Balai Polis in City Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Nasi Lemak in Penang
Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang ★ 4.4
Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang is a halal stall that only sells nasi lemak: coconut milk rice wrapped in banana leaf, topped with sambal and one of six toppings.
TryNasi lemak wrapped in banana leaf
TipTry anchovies with a hard-boiled egg, and go easy on the fiery sambal.
Du-An ★ 4.2
Du-An is a Malaysian restaurant on Lebuh Pantai serving traditional Malaysian cooking: nasi lemak, rendang beef, laksa, satay, all certified halal.
SignatureSkin-on mutton curry, Nasi lemak
TipThe skin-on mutton curry is a particular standout, with a melty texture and big aromas.
Rasa Rasa ★ 4.2
Rasa Rasa serves a Nyonya combo set built around pandan nasi lemak with your choice of toppings, alongside a concise à la carte menu, at 59 Gat Lebuh Chulia.
SignatureNyonya combo set, Tub tim krob
TipThose with a sweet tooth should try the tub tim krob, and the raw brick walls are softened by potted plants.
Nasi Lemak in Singapore
Featured by TableJourney as a signature dish of Singapore. See where to eat Nasi Lemak in Singapore or the Singapore signature dishes guide.
More cities are in research. Want nasi lemak covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.