The popular Malaysian dish known as Nasi lemak is being celebrated with a Google Doodle.
In Malaysia, the rich fragrant and spicy dish is usually eaten for breakfast and translates to mean “rich rice,” referring to the coconut milk included in the recipe.
Here’s everything you need to know about Nasi lemak:
What's in Nasi lemak?
The main component of a Nasi lemak is rice cooked in coconut milk (santan) which is then flavoured with pandan leaf and galangal root.
A variety of components can then be added to the rice, including anchovies, crispy peanuts, hard-boiled egg, sliced cucumber and sambal (hot sauce) or a dash of tamarind juice, with an optional piece of fried chicken or beef rendang on the side.
To serve, the Nasi lemak is placed in a banana leaf to keep it warm.
Why is it being celebrated with a Google Doodle?
Nasi lemak is considered Malaysia’s national dish due to its huge cultural significance in the south-east Asian country.
The delicacy is thought to have originated on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and was intended to be a hearty morning meal for farmers.
There is also a well-known legend that attempts to cement the dish’s origins. So the story goes, Seri, the daughter of a widow named Mak Kuntum accidentally tipped coconut into the rice pot.
When her mother returned home and saw the rice, she asked “Apa kau masak ni, Seri?” (What did you cook, Seri) to which Seri answered, “Nasi le! Mak!” (Rice, mother!)
The dish has undergone many variations and experimentations and is also a popular meal in Singapore and Thailand.
