Nasi lemak - once a farmer's meal, now Malaysia's favourite

Local favourite: Back in the day, in an agrarian society, the villagers would consume a healthy serving of nasi lemak for breakfast before heading out to the fields. — filepic

This coconut rice dish has gone far beyond its humble beginnings.

NASI lemak may be the darling of every Malaysian who loves local food. What started as a humble (national) dish with the essential coconut milk rice, ikan bilis (anchovy) sambal, slices of cucumber, hard-boiled egg and roasted groundnuts wrapped in banana leaf has evolved into an industry and tourism commodity.