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Nasi lemak

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Nasi lemak
ناسي لمق‎
Nasi lemak with sotong pedas (spicy squid), sambal chili paste, boiled egg, slices of cucumber, ikan bilis, and peanuts served at a restaurant in Penang
CourseMain course, usually for breakfast
Place of originMalaysia[1][2][3][4]
Region or state
Serving temperatureHot or room-temperature
Main ingredientsRice cooked in coconut milk with pandan leaves
Ingredients generally usedServed with sambal, anchovies, cucumber, and various side dishes
  •   [[Commons:Category:Nasi lemak|Media: Nasi lemak
    ناسي لمق‎]]
Breakfast culture in Malaysia: dining experience in a multi-ethnic society
CountryMalaysia
Reference02113
RegionAsia and the Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription2024 (19th session)
ListRepresentative

Nasi lemak (Jawi: ناسي لمق‎) is a dish originating in Malay cuisine that consists of rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf. It is commonly found in Malaysia, where it is considered the national dish.[5][6][7] It is also a native dish in neighbouring areas with significant ethnic Malay populations, such as Singapore[8][9] and Southern Thailand. In Indonesia, it can be found in parts of Sumatra, especially the Malay regions of Riau, Riau Islands, and Medan.[10] It is considered an essential dish for a typical Malay-style breakfast.[11]

Nasi lemak can also be found in the Bangsamoro region of Mindanao, prepared by Filipino Moros, as well as in Australia's external territories of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.[citation needed]

History and background

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Nasi lemak was mentioned as early as 1875 in a French–Malay dictionary compiled by Pierre-Etienne-Lazare Favre,[12] a Roman Catholic missionary based on the Malay peninsula, and in a book titled The Circumstances of Malay Life, written by Richard Olaf Winstedt in 1909.[13][14] With roots in Malay culture and cuisine, the name of the dish in Malay literally means "fat rice"[15][16] but is taken in this context to mean "rich", or "creamy".[17] This is derived from the cooking process, which involves soaking the rice in coconut cream and steaming the mixture. The addition of pandan leaves give the rice its distinct flavour.[15]

Nasi lemak is traditionally wrapped in banana leaves.

Traditionally, nasi lemak is wrapped and served in banana leaves, together with a hot spicy sauce (sambal) and various garnishes, including fresh cucumber slices, fried anchovies (ikan bilis), roasted peanuts, and hard-boiled or fried eggs.[15][18]

As a more substantial meal, nasi lemak may also be served with an additional protein dish such as ayam goreng (fried chicken), sambal sotong (cuttlefish in chili), small fried fish, cockles, and rendang daging (beef stewed in coconut milk and spices).[18][19] Other accompaniments include stir-fried water convolvulus (kangkong)[20] and spicy pickled vegetable salad (acar).

Nasi lemak is widely eaten in Malaysia and Singapore. Commonly consumed as breakfast in both countries, it is sold in hawker centres and roadside stalls.[8]

In Indonesia, nasi lemak is also common breakfast fare, especially in Sumatra (Riau Islands, Riau, and Medan).[21] In the Palembang and Jambi provinces, it is called nasi gemuk, since in Palembang Malay, gemuk is a synonym of lemak.[citation needed]

On 31 January 2019, Google released a Google Doodle celebrating nasi lemak.[22]

Variations

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Traditional Malaysian nasi lemak, at its simplest rendition

In Malaysia and Singapore, nasi lemak comes in many variations, as they are prepared by different chefs from different cultures.

In northwestern Peninsular Malaysia, nasi lemak dishes typically incorporate curry into their recipe. The sambal served with the dish varies in spiciness, ranging from mild to very spicy.

Hawker centres in Singapore and Malaysia usually wrap the dish in banana leaves to enhance its flavour. Roadside stalls sell them ready-packed, known as nasi lemak bungkus.

Malaysia

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Traditional Malaysian version

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Stacked packs of nasi lemak in a kedai makan in Seremban

A traditional Malaysian nasi lemak calls for rice and a serving of sambal, anchovies, peanuts, and boiled egg.

While nasi lemak is typically made using white rice, brown rice can also be used.[23] Cooked with fresh coconut milk, with pandanus leaves thrown in, the dish is served on banana leaves.

Alor Setar variant

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See also: Nasi kandar
An Alor Setar-style nasi lemak served with curry and an omelette

Also known as nasi lemak kuning (yellow nasi lemak), or nasi lemak royale, this version is prevalent around parts of northern Kedah, especially in Alor Setar, as well as Perlis. The rice is yellow in colour and commonly eaten with curries.

As both variations of nasi lemak are widely available in northern Kedah and Perlis, locals commonly refer to the traditional dish as nasi lemak daun pisang (banana leaf nasi lemak).

Terengganu variant

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In the east coast state of Terengganu, ikan aye/aya/tongkol (mackerel tuna) is often added to the dish.

Malacca variant

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Malaccan nasi lemak kangkung

In Malacca, kangkung is usually served together with nasi lemak, a contrast from the cucumber that is commonly used in the standard version of the dish.

Malaysian Chinese variant

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Although it is not common to see Chinese stalls and restaurants selling nasi lemak, there is a non-halal version that contains pork, sold in towns and cities such as Malacca, Penang, Perak, and certain parts of Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Indian variant

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The Malaysian Indian variation is similar to the original one. As many Malaysian Indians are Hindus, however, and thus do not eat beef, their variant of masi lemak is often served with chicken curry, fish curry, or lamb curry, as well as with dishes like chicken masala or chicken varuval.

Vegetarian variant

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Vegetarian nasi lemak

In certain parts of Malaysia and Singapore, hawkers and restaurants may offer vegetarian nasi lemak. In this variant, the dried anchovies and the shrimp paste for sambal are replaced with vegetarian substitutes. Vegetarian nasi lemak can also be served with stir-fried vegetables and plant-based imitation fish or meat.

Strawberry variant

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This variant is usually regarded as a unique Cameron Highlands specialty, where strawberries are commercially grown. The fruit is added to the sambal, and the rice is coloured dark pink.

Indonesia

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Across the Malacca Strait, the Malay Indonesians of the Sumatran east coast share a common heritage and cuisine with their Malaysian counterparts. As a result, nasi lemak is also native to the Riau Islands and Riau province.[24]

Riau Islands variant

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Nasi lemak in the Riau Islands, usually served with seafood, such as spicy chili squid, anchovy sambal, peanuts, boiled egg, sprinkled with bawang goreng, and slices of cucumber.

In the Riau Archipelago, nasi lemak is considered a native Malay dish as well as a favourite breakfast food.[24] Being an archipelagic region,[25] seafood is usually added to nasi lemak, including ikan tamban (Sardinella longiceps), ikan selar kuning (Selaroides leptolepis), sotong, cumi-cumi (squid), or shrimp.[21][26]

Riau variant

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An Indonesian stamp depicting nasi lemak as a local dish of Riau province

In Pekanbaru city, Riau province, locally caught freshwater river fishes are commonly used to accompany nasi lemak. These include ikan selais (Kryptopterus cryptopterus), ikan patin (Pangasius), and ikan lomek (Harpadon nehereus). The fish are usually cooked in Minang-style lado ijo (green chili pepper), minced and fried as perkedel ikan, or just plain fried.[27]

Other than fried fish, Pekanbaru's nasi lemak might also be served with fried tempeh, beef prepared as gulai or rendang, and also stir-fried long beans, often cooked in spicy coconut milk.[28]

Medan variant

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Nasi lemak Medan with emping and potato crisps, sweet fried tempeh, beef rendang, egg balado, perkedel, and cucumber, topped with egg bits and fried shallot.

The Medan Melayu Deli version of nasi lemak is usually served with a choice of side dishes, either rendang (beef or chicken) or balado (egg or shrimp in chili sauce). It may additionally include a sprinkle of crispy fried shallot, slices of omelette, kripik kentang balado (spicy potato chips), tempe orek (seasoned fried tempeh), perkedel (fried potato patties), sambal chili paste, and slightly bitter emping crackers.[10]

Next to rendang and balado, the vegetable dish sayur masak lemak (vegetables including long beans, cabbage, and long green chilies in coconut milk) is also offered. It is a popular street food in Medan, sold in small warung, usually together with Lontong Medan.[29]

Singapore

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Nasi lemak in Singapore, served with chicken cutlet, sambal ikan bilis (anchovy sambal), peanuts, salted anchovies, egg, and otah.

Singaporean Chinese variant

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Retaining the familiar aroma of pandan leaves, the Singaporean Chinese variation of nasi lemak comes with a variety of sides that include deep-fried chicken drumsticks, chicken franks, fish cake, curried vegetables, and tongsan luncheon meat.[30]

Similar dishes

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Main article: Coconut rice
Nasi uduk, a similar coconut rice dish from Indonesia

Nasi lemak's closest analogue is probably the Sumatran nasi gemuk (lit. "fatty rice"), commonly found in the Indonesian cities of Jambi and Palembang. The two dishes are essentially the same, and they differ mainly in name, where lemak is synonymous with gemuk in Jambi and Palembang Malay.[31]

Other, similar regional dishes that use rice cooked in coconut milk include nasi uduk from Jakarta, nasi gurih from Aceh, and the Javanese nasi liwet.[32]

Preparation of nasi lemuni

Nasi lemuni is a similar savoury rice dish traditionally found in northern Peninsular Malaysia. Its preparation is similar to that of nasi lemak, though the inclusion of lemuni leaf (Vitex trifolia) makes it distinctive.

Nasi katok is another similar dish, this one from Brunei Darussalam, which uses plain white rice rather than coconut rice.

Health

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In March 2016, nasi lemak was mentioned as one of the healthy international breakfast foods by Time magazine.[33] However, a single, full-size serving of nasi lemak, with the addition of fried chicken, meat, or fish, can be between 800 and well over 1,000 calories. The coconut milk-infused rice also contains saturated fat, an ingredient connected to health issues such as diabetes.[34]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rachel Au (18 August 2021). "Nasi Lemak: An Origin Story". Buro 24/7.
  2. ^ Teh, Eng Hock (17 September 2009). "Laksa and nasi lemak among our pride, says Yen Yen". www.thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  3. ^ Ahmad, Aida (19 November 2014). "Nasi lemak – once a farmer's meal, now Malaysia's favourite". thestar.com.my. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  4. ^ Ram, Sadho (18 May 2014). "Ipoh-Born Ping Coombes Wins MasterChef 2014 by Cooking Nasi Lemak and Wonton Soup". SAYS.com. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  5. ^ Dwayne A. Rules (7 April 2011). "Nasi lemak, our 'national dish'". The Star. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  6. ^ Naomi Lindt (22 November 2012). "A Food Bloggers' Tour of Kuala Lumpur". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  7. ^ "#CNNFoodchallnge: What's your national dish? | CNN Travel". CNN Travel. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b Williams, Vicki (15 July 2019). "Is nasi lemak from Malaysia or Singapore?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Nasi lemak". VisitSingapore.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  10. ^ a b Muhammad Irzal Adiakurnia (11 August 2017). "Mencicipi Harum dan Lembutnya Nasi Lemak Medan di Jakarta". Kompas.com (in Indonesian).
  11. ^ Tibère, Laurance (May 2019). "Staging a National Dish: The social relevance of Nasi Lemak in Malaysia" (PDF). Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality & Tourism. 8: 51–66 – via EBSCO.
  12. ^ Favre, P. É. L. (1875). Dictionnaire malais-français. Austria: Imprimerie impériale et royale – via Google Books
  13. ^ Winstedt, Sir Richard Olof; Winstedt, Richard (1909). The Circumstances of Malay Life. Ams Press Inc. ISBN 978-0-404-16882-7. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  14. ^ The circumstances of Malay life Free Ebook. 1981. ISBN 9780404168827.
  15. ^ a b c April V. Walters =, ed. (2014). The Foodspotting Field Guide. Chronicle Books. p. 52. ISBN 978-1452119878.
  16. ^ "Nasi Lemak". Delectable Asia. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  17. ^ Carol Selva Rajah (4 February 2014). Heavenly Fragrance: Cooking with Aromatic Asian Herbs, Fruits, Spices and Seasonings. Periplus Editions (HK) ltd. p. 103. ISBN 978-0794607371.
  18. ^ a b Lee Khang Yi (31 August 2014). "Nasi lemak: The one dish that unites us all". Malay Mail Online.
  19. ^ Karen-Michaela Tan (14 October 2014). "Nasi Lemak Wars". Hungry Go Where.
  20. ^ Rita Zahara (1 January 2012). Malay Heritage Cooking. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd. p. 126. ISBN 978-9814328661.
  21. ^ a b "Local Favorite Food". Wonderful Kepulauan Riau. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  22. ^ Michallon, Clémence (31 January 2019). "Nasi lemak: What is the Malaysian dish and why is it being celebrated?". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  23. ^ "Healthier Nasi Lemak". Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  24. ^ a b Wiranata, Ruzi (21 March 2023). "Nasi Lemak, Menu Sarapan Pagi Favorit di Kepri". batamnews.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Nasi Lemak Khas Karimun, Enaknya Sesuai Namanya". melayupedia.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  26. ^ Aminuddin (28 May 2015). "Kedai Kopi Jalan Bintan Hadir dengan Konsep Berbeda". Tribunnews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  27. ^ "Nasi Lemak Pekanbaru". Melayu Online. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Makanan Khas Riau Mulai dari Makanan Berat hingga Makanan Ringan". Gramedia (in Indonesian). 27 March 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Medan on a Plate". Eating Asia. 21 May 2007.
  30. ^ "Is nasi lemak from Malaysia or Singapore?". South China Morning Post. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  31. ^ Amalia, Lita. "Gurihnya Nasi Gemuk Khas Jambi, Yuk Bikin!". detiksumut (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Semerbak Aroma Rempah Nasi Uduk Betawi". Tutur Visual – Kompas.id (in Indonesian). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  33. ^ This, Mike Dunphy / Eat; That!, Not (21 March 2016). "10 Healthy International Breakfasts". Time. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  34. ^ Chris Chan (31 March 2016). "Is nasi lemak really a healthy dish?". Star2.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
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Media related to Nasi lemak at Wikimedia Commons

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