Nasi Lemak is a beloved Malaysian dish, often eaten for breakfast but enjoyed any time of day. This recipe gives you everything you need to make a simple and delicious version at home — complete with coconut rice, spicy sambal, and traditional toppings.
📝 Ingredients
🍚 For the Coconut Rice:
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 1½ cups coconut milk
- 1½ cups water (adjust slightly depending on rice variety)
- 2 pandan leaves, tied into a knot (optional but recommended)
- 1 tsp salt
🌶️ For the Sambal (Spicy Sauce):
- 10–12 dried red chillies (soaked in hot water for 10 minutes)
- 2–3 fresh red chillies
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp belacan (shrimp paste, toasted)
- 1 tbsp tamarind paste (or tamarind pulp soaked and strained)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
🍽️ For the Toppings:
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 100g fried anchovies (ikan bilis)
- 100g roasted peanuts
- Optional: Fried chicken, rendang, or sambal squid
👩🍳 Instructions
✅ Step 1: Cook the Coconut Rice
- Rinse the Rice: Wash the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Combine Ingredients: In a pot or rice cooker, add rice, coconut milk, water, pandan leaves, and salt.
- Cook the Rice:
- Stovetop: Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until cooked.
- Rice Cooker: Use the same mixture and cook as normal.
- Fluff the Rice: Discard pandan leaves and fluff rice with a fork once done.
✅ Step 2: Make the Sambal
- Prepare the Chilies: Soak dried chillies in hot water for 10 minutes.
- Blend the Paste: In a blender, combine:
- Soaked dried chillies
- Fresh chillies
- Onion
- Garlic
- Toasted belacan
Add a little water to help it blend smoothly.
- Cook the Sambal:
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add the blended mixture and sauté for 5–10 minutes until fragrant and the oil separates (pecah minyak).
- Season: Add tamarind paste, sugar, and salt. Cook for another 5 minutes, adjusting to taste.
- Cool: Let the sambal cool before serving.
✅ Step 3: Assemble Your Nasi Lemak
- Plate the Rice: Place a generous scoop of coconut rice in the centre of the plate.
- Add the Toppings:
- Halved hard-boiled eggs
- Sliced cucumber
- Fried anchovies
- Roasted peanuts
- Add Sambal: Spoon the sambal over the rice or serve on the side.
- Optional: Add your choice of protein like fried chicken, rendang, or sambal squid.
🍴 Enjoy Your Nasi Lemak!
Your homemade Nasi Lemak is ready — rich, spicy, and comforting!
