FAVORITE FOOD

Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak its name in Malay literally means "oily or fatty rice", but is taken in this context to mean "rich" or "creamy".The name is derived from the cooking process whereby rice is soaked in coconut cream and then the mixture steamed. The rice is normally cooked with pandan leaves that gives it a distinctive flavour.

Traditionally, nasi lemak is served with a hot spicy sauce (sambal), and usually include various garnishes, including fresh cucumber slices, small fried  (ikan bilis), roasted peanuts, and hard-boiled or fried egg.As a more substantial meal, nasi lemak also be served with an additional protein dish such as ayam goreng (fried chicken), sambal sotong (cuttlefish in chili), small fried fish, and on special occasions rendang daging (beef) stewed in coconut milk and spices).Other accompaniments include stir fried water convolvulus  and spicy pickled vegetables salad. Traditionally most of these accompaniments are spicy in nature.

Nasi lemak is widely eaten in Malaysia and Singapore. More commonly consumed as breakfast in both countries, it is commonly sold at hawker food centres and roadside stalls in Malaysia and Singapore. This unique dish often comes wrapped in banana leaves, newspaper or brown paper, or it in some shops served on a plate. However, owing to its popularity there are restaurants which serve it as a noon or evening meal, making it possible for the dish to be eaten all day. Nasi lemak kukus which means "steamed nasi lemak" is another name given to nasi lemak served with steamed rice. In Malaysia, nasi lemak also can be found in a night market with a variety of dishes.

MUHAMMAD AFZAN BIN BADRUL SHAH

PTM 150718645