Nasi Lemak

Moderate nutritional value

Malaysian coconut rice with sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts and egg.

Nasi Lemak — photo 1

Nasi lemak is Malaysia's national dish: rice cooked in coconut milk with pandan and ginger, served with spicy sambal ikan bilis, crisp fried anchovies, fried peanuts, a hard-boiled egg and cucumber. A 290 g plate has about 670 kcal, 25 g protein and 33 g fat, of which 16 g is saturated, mostly from the coconut milk and palm oil. Halving the rice saves about 160 kcal.

Macronutrients Distribution

Protein: 8.6g (19.7%)
Fat: 11g (25.2%)
Carbs: 24g (55.0%)
Fiber: 1.5g

Basic Nutritional Info

NutrientValueDV
Protein8.6g15.4%
Fat11g15.7%
Carbs24g8.0%
Simple Sugars8.4gEstimate
Complex Carbs14.1gEstimate
Fiber1.5g6.0%
Water54g2.2%
Calories23110.3%

Glycemic Index

Low (0-55) Medium (56-69) High (70+)
66

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Fatty Acids Composition

Fatty AcidAmountUnitDV
Saturated5.48g27.4%
Monounsaturated3.46g13.8%
Polyunsaturated1.73g13.3%
Omega-30.519gEstimate
EPA74mg8.2%
DHA135mg15.0%
Omega-61.211gEstimate
Trans0.01g0.5%

Antioxidants

Antioxidants (e.g. vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, polyphenols, carotenoids) help protect cells from oxidative stress and support health. They are found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and some animal products.

Compounds with antioxidant activity. Vitamin C, E and selenium are included when present in the product.

CompoundAmountUnit
Vitamin C1.02mg
Vitamin E1.2mg
Selenium15.4mcg

Vitamins

VitaminAmountUnitDV
vitamin A38.6mcg4.3%
vitamin B10.057mg4.8%
vitamin B20.129mg9.9%
vitamin B32.63mg16.4%
vitamin B60.115mg6.8%
vitamin B919.4mcg4.8%
vitamin B120.207mcg8.6%
vitamin C1.02mg1.1%
vitamin D0.309 (12 IU)mcg2.1%
vitamin E1.2mg8.0%
vitamin K2.96mcg2.5%

Minerals

MineralAmountUnitDV
calcium50.5mg5.1%
iron1.8mg10.0%
magnesium32.4mg8.1%
phosphorus126mg18.0%
potassium231mg8.9%
sodium334mg14.5%
zinc1.01mg9.2%
copper0.195mg21.7%
manganese0.507mg22.0%
selenium15.4mcg28.0%

Essential Amino Acids

Amino AcidAmountUnitDVDIAAS
Histidine 218mg31.1%136%
Isoleucine 381mg27.2%127%
Leucine 669mg24.5%110%
Lysine 551mg26.2%115%
Methionine 347mg33.0%151%
Phenylalanine 705mg40.3%172%
Threonine 341mg32.5%136%
Tryptophan 99mg35.4%150%
Valine 474mg26.0%119%

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Values per 100 g

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Allergens

EggsFishShellfishPeanuts

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Main Difficulty: Medium Servings: 6 Total: 75 min

Ingredients

  • Jasmine rice 400 g
  • Coconut milk, canned 250 ml (240 g)
  • Water 450 ml
  • Pandan leaves and fresh ginger 2 leaves and 3 slices (10 g)
  • Salt 1.5 tsp (9 g)
  • Dried anchovies (ikan bilis), rinsed 80 g
  • Raw peanuts, skin on 80 g
  • Eggs, large, hard-boiled 6 (300 g)
  • Cucumber 1 small (150 g)
  • Dried red chilies, soaked 20 g
  • Shallots and garlic 6 (100 g) and 4 cloves (16 g)
  • Shrimp paste (belacan) 1 tsp (5 g)
  • Tamarind pulp and sugar 20 g and 2 tbsp (25 g)
  • Vegetable oil 150 ml
Prep
30 min
Cook
45 min

Instructions

  1. 1

    Rinse the rice, then cook it with the coconut milk, 350 ml of the water, a third of the salt, the knotted pandan leaves and the ginger in a rice cooker or covered pot for 15 minutes; rest 10 minutes.

  2. 2

    Fry the anchovies in the oil over medium heat for 4 minutes until crisp and lift them out; fry the peanuts in the same oil for 4-5 minutes and drain.

  3. 3

    Blend the soaked chilies, shallots, garlic and shrimp paste to a paste with a splash of water.

  4. 4

    Pour off all but about 4 tbsp of the oil and fry the paste over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring, until dark red and the oil separates.

  5. 5

    Soak the tamarind in the remaining 100 ml of warm water, strain it into the sambal, add the sugar, the remaining salt and half the anchovies, and cook for 5 minutes more.

  6. 6

    Slice the cucumber and halve the hard-boiled eggs.

  7. 7

    Serve the rice with the sambal, the remaining crisp anchovies, peanuts, egg and cucumber.