HELLO PEEPS!

Hello makanslators! 

Welcome to my very first blog post, yay! 🎉

And what better way to kick things off than with a true Malaysian favourite: Basmati Nasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken (or as we say it, Nasi Lemak Basmati bersama Ayam Goreng Berempah).

I got this recipe from none other than Khairul Aming because let’s be honest, the guy really knows how to make food look insanely good and so easy to follow! His recipes are always a hit, and this one? Chef’s kiss.

So… why Nasi Lemak?

Because it’s my ultimate comfort food. Breakfast? Yes. Lunch? Of course. Dinner? Absolutely. I could eat it any time of the day, and it never fails to hit the spot. There's just something special about fluffy coconut rice, spicy sambal, and that crispy, flavour-packed fried chicken.

Alright, enough talking, let’s dive into this deliciousness.

Let’s make it! 🍽️

 Nasi Lemak Basmati bersama Ayam Goreng Berempah

Basmati Nasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken

(Fragrant coconut milk-infused basmati rice served with crispy, spiced fried chicken).

by Khairul Aming

 

Bahan bahan:

Ingredients:

Sambal

Sambal (spicy chilli paste)

·       Cili kering

Dried chilli

·       2 biji bawang merah 

2 red onions

·       6 ulas bawang putih 

6 cloves of garlic

·       Segenggam kecil ikan bilis

A small handful of dried anchovies

·       Belacan yang telah dibakar

Grilled fried shrimp paste

·       Gula melaka

Palm sugar

·       Asam jawa

Tamarind paste

·       Serbuk perasa

Seasoning powder

 

Ayam goreng berempah

Spiced fried chicken

·       Ayam

Chicken 

·       4 batang serai 

4 stalks of lemongrass

·       Serbuk kari

Curry powder

·       Serbuk cili

Chilli powder

·       Serbuk ketumbar

Ground coriander

·       Serbuk jintan manis

Ground fennel

·       Serbuk jintan putih

Ground cumin

·       Serbuk kunyit

Turmeric powder

·       2 tangkai daun kari 

2 sprigs of curry leaves

 

Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak (Fragrant coconut milk-infused basmati rice)

·       4 cawan beras basmati

4 cups of basmati rice

·       5 ulas bawang putih

5 cloves of garlic

·       Bawang merah

Red onion

·       Halia

Ginger

·       2 helai daun pandan 

2  pandan leaves

·       2 batang serai

2 stalks of lemongrass

·       1 kotak kecil santan

1 small box of coconut milk

 

Cara penyediaan:

Method:

Sambal

Sambal (spicy chilli paste)

 

1.     Rebus dan kisar cili kering.

Boil the dried chillies, then blend them.

2.     Kemudian, kisar 2 biji bawang merah, 6 ulas bawang putih, segenggam kecil ikan bilis dan seketul belacan yang telah dibakar.

Next, blend 2 red onions, 6 cloves of garlic, a small handful of dried anchovies and one piece of grilled fermented shrimp paste.

3.     Tumiskan semua bahan yang sudah dikisar ke dalam minyak.

Sauté all the blended ingredients in oil.  

Bahan-bahan yang dikisar tadi akan memenuhi lebih kurang satu mangkuk, jadi jumlah pes cili kering juga perlu sama, dengan nisbah 1:1.

The blended mixture should fill about one bowl, so use an equal amount of dried chilli paste, maintaining a 1:1 ratio.

4.     Setelah sambal pecah minyak, masukkan 2 ketul kecil gula melaka dan tambahkan setengah sudu pes asam jawa.

Once the sambal is cooked and the oil has separated, add 2 small pieces of palm sugar and stir in half a tablespoon of tamarind paste.

5.     Masukkan garam dan serbuk perasa secukup rasa.

Add salt and seasoning powder to your preferred taste. 

6.     Kacau hingga sebati dan sambal siap untuk dihidang.

Stir well, and the sambal is ready to serve.

 

Ayam goreng berempah

Spiced fried chicken

 

1.     Kisar 4 batang serai dan lengkuas sebesar ibu jari.

Blend 4 stalks of lemongrass and a thumb-sized piece of galangal.

2.     Gunakan hampas sahaja, bukan air kisaran.

Use only the pulp from the blended mixture (solid leftovers); discard the juice.

3.     Perapkan ayam dengan bahan berikut:

Marinate the chicken with the following:

ü   1 sudu kecil serbuk kari

1 teaspoon of curry powder

ü   1 sudu kecil serbuk cili

1 teaspoon of chilli powder

ü   1 sudu kecil serbuk ketumbar

1 teaspoon of coriander powder

ü   1 sudu kecil serbuk kunyit

1 teaspoon of turmeric powder

ü  ½ sudu kecil garam

½ teaspoon of salt

 

4.     Masukkan hampas serai dan lengkuas tadi ke dalam perapan.

Add the blended lemongrass and galangal pulp into the marinade.

5.     Tambahkan 2 tangkai daun kari dan sedikit air. Gaul sebati.

Add 2 sprigs of curry leaves and a bit of water. Mix well.

6.     Perap ayam selama 20 minit.

Marinate the chicken for 20 minutes.

7.     Panaskan minyak dan goreng ayam sehingga masak dan keemasan.

Heat oil and fry the chicken until it is fully cooked and golden brown.

 

Nasi lemak

Nasi lemak (Fragrant coconut milk-infused basmati rice)

 

1.     Sediakan 4 cawan beras basmati yang telah dibasuh.

Prepare 4 cups of washed basmati rice.

2.     Masukkan bahan berikut ke dalam periuk nasi bersama beras:

Add the following ingredients into the rice cooker with the rice:

ü   5 ulas bawang putih

5 cloves of garlic

ü   1 biji bawang merah

1 red onion

ü  Halia sebesar ibu jari

A thumb-sized piece of ginger

ü   2 helai daun pandan (disimpul)

2 knotted pandan leaves

ü   2 batang serai yang diketuk

2 stalks of bruised lemongrass 

ü    1 kotak kecil santan

       1 small box of coconut milk

3.     Tambahkan 6 cawan air. Nisbah air kepada beras ialah 6:4.

Add 6 cups of water. The water-to-rice ratio is 6:4.

4.     Masukkan 2 sudu besar minyak masak dan 1 sudu kecil garam.

Add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 1 teaspoon of salt.

5.     Masak nasi seperti biasa menggunakan periuk nasi.

            Cook the rice as usual using a rice cooker. 

Done!

Did you know? 

To give your nasi lemak that extra something, serve it on a banana leaf! Not only is it a nice touch for the dish, but the leaf also preserves the rich aroma of the coconut rice. You can also serve it with sliced cucumbers, roasted peanuts, hard-boiled egg, and crispy anchovies for the full nasi lemak experience. 

Though nasi lemak sambal is normally spicy, there are different types of sambal found in the different Malaysian regions. Some would add more belacan (fermented shrimp paste), while others might add sweeteners like palm sugar to counteract the spiciness with sweetness.

One of the special ingredients in this Nasi Lemak recipe is belacan (a fermented shrimp paste), which is commonly used in Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking. It has a strong and stinging aroma, but it adds a deep umami flavour to dishes like sambal. Don't be put off by its smell. Once it's cooked, it enhances the taste and brings the authentic Malaysian flavour to your dish. Yumss!

In Malaysian cooking, "pecah minyak" is a term that means the oil starts to rise and separate from the blended ingredients, signalling that the flavours have developed and the paste is fully cooked.

If you had to pick one Malaysian dish, what would it be?

 Let me know your favourite in the comments below!💭

For full details and step-by-step instructions, just click the link below.
And if you're unsure about any ingredients or cooking methods, don’t worry, you can always refer to my translation here. I’ve made it easy for you guys to follow along!😆

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSh58yuEy/

All credit goes to Khairul Aming for the original recipe. This is a translated and adapted version for educational and personal sharing purposes only.