Healthier Nasi Lemak
Considered the national dish of Malaysia, nasi lemak is a breakfast staple in Singapore hawker centres, but is also recognised as one of the least healthy breakfast options - no surprise since lemak means 'fatty' and refers to the rich white rice cooked in coconut cream. When served with fried chicken, the dish really does pack a calorific punch. However, with a few tweaks and substitutions it is possible to create a healthier version of the dish to enjoy on weekends at home with family.
Yield
4 servingsPrep
30 minCook
45 minReady
4½ hrsIngredients
| Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasi lemak | |||
| 1 | cup |
brown rice
or quinoa |
*
|
| ⅓ | cup |
coconut milk
|
|
| 1 | cup |
water
|
|
| 1 | pinch |
garam masala
|
*
|
| 1 | x |
ginger
sliced, to taste |
*
|
| 1 | x |
pandan leaves
tied into a knot |
* |
| 1 | x |
sea salt
to taste |
*
|
| Baked spicy chicken | |||
| 1000 | grams |
chicken breasts
free-range, trimmed |
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
cumin seeds
ground |
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
coriander seeds
ground |
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
turmeric
|
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
garam masala
|
*
|
| 1 | tablespoon |
chili powder
|
|
| 2 | tablespoons |
yogurt
oragnic |
|
| 1 | x |
sea salt
to taste |
*
|
| 1 | x |
black pepper
to taste |
*
|
| Sambal tumis | |||
| 12 | each |
red chilis, dried
soaked in cold water for 15 minutes |
* |
| 4 | each |
thai bird's eye chili peppers
or to taste |
* |
| 3 | medium |
red onion
chopped |
|
| 4 | cloves |
garlic
crushed and chopped |
|
| 1 ½ | teaspoons |
tamarind
|
*
|
| 2 | teaspoons |
sugar
coconut sugar |
|
| Condiments | |||
| 1 | x |
cucumbers
sliced |
*
|
| 1 | x |
ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
cooked (shallow fried in coconut oil) |
* |
| 1 | x |
eggs
soft boiled |
*
|
Ingredients
| Amount | Measure | Ingredient | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasi lemak: | |||
| 237 | ml |
brown rice
or quinoa |
*
|
| 79 | ml |
coconut milk
|
|
| 237 | ml |
water
|
|
| 1 | pinch |
garam masala
|
*
|
| 1 | x |
ginger
sliced, to taste |
*
|
| 1 | x |
pandan leaves
tied into a knot |
* |
| 1 | x |
sea salt
to taste |
*
|
| Baked spicy chicken: | |||
| 1E+3 | grams |
chicken breasts
free-range, trimmed |
|
| 5 | ml |
cumin seeds
ground |
|
| 5 | ml |
coriander seeds
ground |
|
| 5 | ml |
turmeric
|
|
| 5 | ml |
garam masala
|
*
|
| 15 | ml |
chili powder
|
|
| 3E+1 | ml |
yogurt
oragnic |
|
| 1 | x |
sea salt
to taste |
*
|
| 1 | x |
black pepper
to taste |
*
|
| Sambal tumis: | |||
| 12 | each |
red chilis, dried
soaked in cold water for 15 minutes |
* |
| 4 | each |
thai bird's eye chili peppers
or to taste |
* |
| 3 | medium |
red onion
chopped |
|
| 4 | cloves |
garlic
crushed and chopped |
|
| 7.5 | ml |
tamarind
|
*
|
| 1E+1 | ml |
sugar
coconut sugar |
|
| Condiments: | |||
| 1 | x |
cucumbers
sliced |
*
|
| 1 | x |
ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
cooked (shallow fried in coconut oil) |
* |
| 1 | x |
eggs
soft boiled |
*
|
Directions
To make the nasi lemak simply put all ingredients into a rice cooker and cook as normal.
To make the baked spicy chicken:
Mix all the spices and yoghurt to make a thick paste.
Place the chicken into a large plastic bag, pour in the spices and rub well into the chicken pieces until well coated.
Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours, but preferably overnight.
When ready to cook, pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees cup
Place the chicken pieces on a roasting tray (to allow fat to drip down) and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until brown and cooked through.
To make the sambal tumis:
Blend chillis, garlic and onion until a thick paste forms.
Heat some olive oil in a pan and stir-fry the chilli paste until it separates from the oil.
Add tamarind and coconut sugar, and continue to cook until the paste turns dark red.
Add a little bit of water and continue to cook for a further 2 minutes.
Adjust seasoning to taste. Let cool.
The paste can be stored in an air-tight container for up to a week in the fridge.
To assemble the nasi lemak:
Spoon a portion of rice onto a plate.
Add a piece of baked chicken, soft-boiled egg, ikan bilis, cucumber slices and sambal tunis.
Adapted from keelysiewcooks. com
