Nasi Lemak

Nasi lemak is a dish of Malay cuisine consisting of rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, its name literally meaning fatty rice though understood to mean rich or creamy, and it holds the status of Malaysia's national dish. It is traditionally wrapped in banana leaf and served with sambal, a spicy chili paste, fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, boiled egg and sliced cucumber, and can be served simply with these basic garnishes or as a more substantial meal with additions such as fried chicken or beef rendang. The dish was documented as early as 1875 in a French-Malay dictionary, and in 2024 Malaysia successfully nominated it, as part of the country's breakfast culture, for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage recognition. It functions as an essential Malay-style breakfast dish and remains widely available in Malaysia and Singapore through hawker centers and roadside stalls.