The rice of nasi lemak is cooked in coconut milk. Because of this, the dish has an element of sweetness to it which pairs perfectly with the savoriness of the other parts of the dish. Usually nasi lemak is topped with a boiled egg, peanuts and anchovies; however, you can substitute these elements for other things like chicken and potatoes. Typically, there is also a spicy chili-based sauce that completes the dish called sambal. All elements of nasi lemak are wrapped in a banana leaf, making the perfect little package of food!
Nasi lemak as a rice-based dish is connected to the local environment because rice farming is so significant in Malaysia. In Kedah, the state where I live, there are rice paddy fields all over. The rice is definitely being put to good use with Malaysians cooking so much nasi lemak every day! Furthermore, the use of the leaf to wrap the nasi lemak shows the connectedness of the dish to the Malaysian environment. It’s a really cool feeling to open up the banana leaf to eat some nasi lemak!
