How to Cook Nasi Lemak?

Many malaysian food recipe book has shared the ways for preparing Nasi Lemak. Nasi Lemak's preparation quite straight forward and it does cause some time for get it ready. The reasons behind was the rice, topping and side dishes need to prepare separately. Here's are some of the details for the nasi lemak recipe as it inclusive of ingredients needed and method for preparing it, get enjoy !

Ingredients for rice

• 1 Cup Rice,(washed and drained)
• 2 Cups Santan (coconut milk)
  
• 1 Pandan Leaf, (tied in a Knot) - Pandan leaf is a type of local herbs, used for providing fragrance for the food
  
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  

Ingredients for Prawn Sambal (prawn can be replaced with anchovies)

• 10-12 Prawns,(shelled and de-veined)
• 1 Large Onion,(sliced)
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Tamarind Juice(in malay we called "asam jawa")
  
• 2 Tablespoons Cooking Oil

Pound together :-
- 2 Dried Chillies
- 2 Fresh Chillies
- 1 Small Piece Belacan - "Belacan" is a kind of paste that made by slice dried fish and prawn)
- 1/2-inch piece Lengkuas
- 1 Candle Nut

Ingredients for Garnishing

• 2 Hard-Boiled Eggs,(cut in wedges) - can served with fried egg also
• 2 Tablespoons Ikan Bilis,(deep-fried till crisp).- "ikan bilis" is anchovies
  
• 1 Piece Yellow Bean Curd,(deep-fried & sliced thinly).
• 1/4 Cucumber,(sliced thinly).
• 2 oz Kangkong,(scalded) - a kind of vegetables
  

Method

1) Wash and clean the rice and put it in a small pot. Add the Santan and the Pandan Leaf and bring to the Boil.

2) When the rice begins to boil, lower the heat.

3) Simmer gently for 10 -15 minutes until all the water has been absorbed and remove from the heat.

4) Loosen rice grains with chopsticks. Cover up and allow rice to cook in its own heat for 10-15 minutes.

5) While the rice is cooking, prepare the Garnishing and Prawn Sambal.

6) For the Sambal, heat oil and fry the onions until slightly brown.

7) Add the pounded ingredients and fry until fragrant. Add Prawns and fry for 2 - 3 minutes.

8) Add Sugar, Salt and Tamarind Juice. Allow to cook for another 4-5 minutes and serve.

9) Serve the rice with the Sambal and other Garnishing.

Since nasi lemak has seated predominantly in malaysian food listing, as it's recipe always been review and modified for suiting the local needs. Other races in Malaysia like Chinese or Baba Nyonya population, also invented some new cooking way for preparing Nasi Lemak. But, no matter how differ the cooking style is, the combination and segregation of the ingredients still remain unchanged.