Meat, South and Southeast Asian
Nasi lemak with fried chicken
Nasi lemak is Malaysia's national dish, coconut rice served with fried chicken, a hard boiled egg, cucumber, peanuts and a spicy sambal. For 4 people, it takes 60 minutes at a medium difficulty level, for about €3.40 per person. The key is fragrant rice and a sambal cooked until the oil rises to the edges.
Malaysia's national dish is waiting for you, a nasi lemak, coconut scented rice, crispy fried chicken, a hard boiled egg and sambal.
- Total time
- 1 h
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Cost per person
- €3.40
- Calories per person
- 730 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
- Season
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- The kids
- They generally like it
Nasi lemak plays on contrasts, the rice is soft and creamy thanks to coconut milk, the chicken brings crunch, the sambal wakes everything up with its heat, and the cucumber cools things back down. Toasted peanuts add that little crackle that keeps you going back for one more bite from every part of the plate.
It's a generous dish to make on a lazy Sunday, when you have time to let the sambal simmer and fry the chicken properly. Kids generally love the chicken and rice, and everyone can adjust their own heat at the table by spooning on more or less sambal, which also makes it a great dish to share with guests curious about something different.
The ingredients
Butcher
- Chicken thighs 4
Fruits and vegetables
- Eggs 4
- Cucumber 1
- Onion 2
- Garlic 3 cloves
- Fresh ginger 20 g
Pantry
- Coconut milk 40 cl
- Roasted peanuts 50 g
- Sambal oelek 2 tbsp
- Jasmine riceoften in the pantry 300 g
- Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
- Flouroften in the pantry 3 tbsp
- Neutral oiloften in the pantry 15 cl
- Sugaroften in the pantry 1 tsp
- Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
Allergens Eggs, Peanuts, Gluten
The step by step recipe
-
Marinate the chicken thighs with turmeric, grated garlic and ginger, salt and water. Cook the rice with coconut milk, an equal amount of water and a pinch of salt. 20 min
Rinse the rice well, the coconut milk already makes it quite starchy.
-
Make the sambal by softening a sliced onion in a bit of oil, add the sambal oelek, sugar and a little water, let it simmer down. 12 min
Cook it until the oil separates out at the edges, it will taste milder and more fragrant.
-
Hard boil the eggs, cool them in water and peel them. 10 min
Lower them into boiling water rather than starting in cold water, they crack less.
-
Dredge the chicken thighs in flour, then fry them in hot oil until well browned and cooked through. 20 min
Keep the oil at 160°C, any hotter and the crust burns before the bone is cooked.
-
Plate the rice, chicken, a halved egg, cucumber slices, peanuts and a generous spoonful of sambal.
Serve the sambal on the side so everyone can control their own heat.
Our tips to get it right
- Pat the chicken thighs dry before dredging them in flour, excess moisture keeps the crust from sticking and browning evenly.
- Make the sambal ahead of time, it's often better reheated since the flavors have time to come together.
- Slice the cucumber right before serving so it stays crisp and doesn't release water onto the plate.
The variations
- Swap the chicken thighs for boneless thigh fillets, they cook faster and stay just as juicy.
- For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with firm tofu pieces, dredged and fried the same way, the rice and sambal stay the same.
- For kids in a hurry, serve the rice and chicken without sambal, with just a splash of soy sauce and the cucumber on the side.
What to serve it with
- Lime wedges on the side
- Unsweetened iced tea
- Garlic stir fried greens
Storage
Keep the rice, chicken and sambal in separate sealed containers, up to 2 days in the fridge. Fried chicken reheats best in the oven or a skillet to bring back the crunch, the rice and sambal reheat well in the microwave. Freezing isn't ideal, fried chicken loses its crispness once thawed.
Questions about this dish
Can I replace the sambal oelek with another chili?
Yes, you can use a red chili paste or fresh chili blended with a bit of oil. Adjust the amount to taste, sambal oelek is already quite strong.
Can this dish be made ahead?
The sambal and rice can be made the day before without any issue, they actually taste better. Fry the chicken right before serving so it stays crispy.
Can the chicken be baked instead of fried?
Yes, bake the floured thighs at 200°C for about 35 minutes, flipping halfway through. The crust will be less crispy than fried but the dish is still very good.
How do I get fragrant rice without pandan or lemongrass?
Coconut milk and salt already give the rice plenty of flavor on their own. You can also add a small slice of ginger during cooking to boost the aroma.
How long does it take to make a nasi lemak, coconut rice with fried chicken, sambal and a hard boiled egg?
Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.
How many calories are in a nasi lemak, coconut rice with fried chicken, sambal and a hard boiled egg?
About 730 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.
How much does a nasi lemak, coconut rice with fried chicken, sambal and a hard boiled egg cost?
About €3.40 per serving, or €13.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.
What allergens does this recipe contain?
This recipe contains eggs, peanuts, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.
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