In Malaysia, nasi lemak is more than a rice dish: Tourism Malaysia also lists it among favourite breakfasts, with sambal, egg and contrasting crisp accompaniments. This home version uses prepared sambal to make the separate elements manageable. Pandan perfumes the rice; if unavailable, omit it as an acknowledged adaptation rather than inventing an equivalent flavour.
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Food · International
Nasi lemak: coconut rice and the flavours of Malaysia
Fragrant coconut rice, sambal, crisp anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and egg in a home version of the Malaysian dish.
2026-10-26 · Editorial staff · Estimated reading time: 2 min
Queen of Queens · Food
The recipe
Malaysia
- Servings
- 4
- Preparation
- 20 min
- Cooking
- 25 min
- Rest / waiting
- 10 min
- Total time
- 55 min
- Estimated calories per serving
- 540 kcal
Difficulty: Medium
Ingredients and quantities
- 280 g long-grain white rice
- 200 ml unsweetened cooking coconut milk
- 300 ml water, adjusted for the rice
- 1–2 food-grade pandan leaves, optional
- 40 g ikan bilis (food-grade small dried anchovies)
- 15 g neutral oil
- 40 g roasted peanuts
- 2 eggs
- 200 g cucumber
- 80 g prepared sambal, about 20 g per portion; a little salt
Method
- Rinse and thoroughly drain the rice. Put in a saucepan with coconut milk, water, knotted pandan and a little salt. Bring to a gentle boil, cover and cook over very low heat for 15–18 minutes, or as appropriate for your rice.
- Turn off the heat and rest covered for 10 minutes. Remove pandan and fluff gently. If still firm, add a little hot water and cook a few minutes longer.
- Meanwhile put the eggs in water and cook for 9–10 minutes from boiling. Cool, peel and halve each egg.
- Prepare the dried anchovies as their package directs. If rinsing is required, dry them thoroughly before pan-frying with the oil for about 3–5 minutes until crisp.
- Divide rice, half an egg, sliced cucumber, peanuts and anchovies among four plates. Serve sambal at the side, starting with a little if very hot.
Tips and variations
Sambal varies in ingredients and heat; some products contain shrimp paste. Anchovies packed in oil do not give the same result as ikan bilis. Calories depend especially on the coconut milk and sambal, so check their labels.
Allergens
Fish, peanuts and eggs; sambal may contain crustaceans and soy.
Sources and further reading
- Tourism Malaysia — Malaysian breakfasts
- https://www.malaysia.travel/explore/20-awesome-and-true-malaysian-breakfast
Calories are estimates per serving and vary with ingredients, brands and actual quantities. Times are approximate; the total includes the stated resting time.
