Nasi Lemak

It's nasi lemak day! Yay!!!!

Finally! I get to indulge in Nasi Lemak. I had been suppressing this craving for almost a month. Yes, that long, of course with a very good reason. There's simply no Nasi Lemak in Krung Thep, or at least, I've not found any peddler selling it. Last month was the last time I was back, thus the last time my pitiful stomach had wonderful experience of digesting Nasi Lemak.

Nasi Lemak is the staple food of all Malaysians, if I may say. The basic Nasi Lemak consists of a combo of rice cooked in coconut milk, sambal (fried pounded chilies), either fried eggs or omelet, crispy anchovies, some fried groundnuts, pieces of cucumber and some boiled kangkung. Nowadays, it's very common to find Nasi Lemak served with a variety of side dishes like Rendang, Curry Chicken, Sambal Sotong, among others. Whatever the side dishes are, the basic composition must and should always be there.

Throughout my short life, I've not met any Malaysian who doesn't like Nasi Lemak. Many had to instead try to limit their intake of this excellent dish though, as consuming too much of it might lead to a life littered with various health problems as the coconut milk makes contributes to high cholesterol in the blood system and the fried things, well, they are fried, need I say more. And yes, I too would fall into that category if I was staying in Malaysia. It's good but like everything good, moderation is the key.

Yet, it's comfort food. I had had it for almost every weekend, getting my supply for one Pasar Pagi makcik who only sells during the weekend. I remember when there was a time I where I had to work some Saturdays, I would purposely drop by her stall to get a pack to bring to work. Hers wasn't outstanding but it was really nice as it had all the basic ingredients. Many peddlers now omit the kangkung, which I really like having in my Nasi Lemak!

Today's craving is satisfied with my homemade Nasi Lemak. It's not difficult to make Nasi Lemak, if you already have all the ingredients ready, especially the Sambal. But if you have a mom like mine, all you need to do is wake up and cook the ingredients. Mine prepared all the things for me, including the kangkung and the sambal. I only had to add in the onion and some tamarind juice into the sambal.

My pack is waiting for me, nicely wrapped in banana leave. My parents had finished theirs. And since my father, quite a picky eater, did not complain anything, I guess, it's not too bad. I am going to stop very soon. The craving is getting stronger and I can feel myself salivating. Really. I know I will enjoy myself. Tremendously.

Later then!