Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is a dish of Malay origin, eaten throughout Malaysia, by all the races. Nasi Lemak, literally translated is 'Fatty Rice'. It is actually rice cooked in coconut cream and served with sambal udang/ikan bilis, fried or boiled eggs, fried ikan bilis, fried peanuts and cucumber. Of course, it can be served with more elaborate curries too...the variation on whai it is served with varies from region to region and family to family. Nasi Lemak is traditionally eaten as breakfast, but it is now eaten as a meal, mainly for lunch. It is ideal as packed lunches for picnics too.

INGREDIENTS



Ingredients for Rice:
4 cups rice, washed and drained
2 shallots, finely sliced
1 garlic, finely sliced
1 cardamon seed
2 small skices of fresh ginger
3 cups fairly thick coconut cream
Ingredients for Asam Prawns
1/2 kilo very fresh large prawns - with shells removed around its middle, head and tails left on.
2 teaspoon tamarind soaked in 4 teaspoon water, with salt to taste.
Cooking oil to deep fry.
Fresh cucumber to garnish.
Ingredients for Sambal Ikan Bilis
200 gms ikan bilis, with head and intestines removed, then washed and drained.
4 dried chillies, finely ground
5 shallots or 1 small onion, finel sliced.
1 teaspoon lime juice - to taste.
4-6 teaspoon cooking oil.
Pinc of salt
1 cup coconut cream.


PREPARATION



Method for Rice:
1. Place rice, shallots, garlic, cardamon seed, ginger and salt in the rice cooker. Pour in the coconut millk.
2. Close the lid and allow it to cook
Method for Asam Prawns:
1. Clean the prwans. Marinade prawn in the tamarind, for at least 1/2 hour.
2. Deep fry prawns in fairly high heat and till parwns turn golden brown, then neatly arrange on a dish edged with sliced cucumber.
Method for Sambal Ikan Bilis:
1. Fry onions and chille paste well.
2. Add ikan bilis and fry till crisp
3. Add lime juice, coconut cream and sugar.
4. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
Note: Nasi Lemak can be served, hot or cold, with asam prawn, sambal ikan bilis, boiled or fried eggs, cucumber slices and fried ikan bilis and fried peanuts.