The Nasi Lemak, that is rice cooked in coconut milk and flavoured with cloves and pandan leaves, is an all time favour. it usually topped with chilli sambal (hot and spicy gravy) and fried ikan bilis (anchovies), sliced hard - boiled eggs, and cucumber. you can also add in some peanuts if desire.

Where can you find it? Nasi Lemak can be found in many restaurants (malay, chinese and indian) or at the food stalls lining the streets in typical malaysian style. Many 5 star hotels serve Nasi Lemak for breakfast too. Sometimes, you can find Nasi Lemak packed in banana leaf. It could cost at little as 50 sen (cents).

Nasi Lemak is very famous for breakfast, lunch or even supper. a "must-try" food if your are a foreigner. you will like it!!

How to make Nasi Lemak and sambal ikan bilis

I ) Nasi Lemak
Ingredients:
1 cup rice
3 screwpine leaves
salt to taste
1 grated coconut
Method
1. Clean the rice and drain
2. Squeeze out 2 cups of thick coconut milk with screwpine leaves. Add in salt.
3. If you desire, you can also add in some sliced shallots and ginger.
4. Serve this rice with sliced hard-boiled eggs, cucumber and sambal ikan bilis.

II) Sambal Ikan Bilis
Ingredients:
1 bombay onion
1/2 cup dried ikan bilis ( anchovies )
1 clove garlic
2 tbsps tamarind juice
4 shallots
8 dried chillies
Prawn paste ( belacan) ( Optional )
Salt and sugar to taste

Method:
1. Fry the ikan bilis until crisp and put aside.
2. Grind the prawn paste together with shallots, garlic, deseeded dried chillies. Slice the bombay onion into rings.
3. Heat 2 tbsps oil in a pan and fry the ground ingredients until fragrant. Add in the onion rings.
4. Add tamatind juice, salt, sugar.
5. Cook, stirring occasionally until the gravy thickens.
6. Add in the ikan bilis and mix well.
7. Serve with steaming hot Nasi Lemak.