Nasi lemak for breakfast anyone?

The Slow Chopper is currently back in Malaysia and has forgotten the meaning of "hunger" due to a continuous supply of food in the Kuala Lumpur office.

For two days in a row, the Slow Chopper has feasted on the perfect Malaysian breakfast food (otherwise known by the Slow Chopper's father as the perfect recipe for a cardiac arrest) that comes wrapped in newspaper, banana leaf or brown wax paper.

Ahh, joy in a packet

Nasi Lemak (literal translation: rice in cream) is considered a national heritage. When most Malaysians abroad are asked the inevitable question of, "Can you tell me the name of Malaysia's signature dish?", Nasi Lemak would be the default answer.

You can easily find packet Nasi Lemaks on the streets or at Mamak stalls. They used to cost about RM1 but "fancy" Malaysian cafes planted in every obscure corner in Malaysian malls nowadays sell them for more than RM2.

Ta-dah. Yum.

The nasi lemak pictured above is not a complete version, much to my chagrin. A traditional nasi lemak has:

Rice cooked in coconut milk + cucumbers + roasted peanuts + deep fried anchovies + hard-boiled egg (some people replace this with a tiny square piece of fried egg to reduce cost. cheapo) + sambal (traditional Malaysian chilli paste that is oh-so-tasty).

When in restaurants, nasi lemak comes on a plate and you would usually get chicken curry or beef rendang (beef stewed in coconut milk and spices) with it.

Highly recommended.

Posted by The Slow Chopper