#kampung

Malaysia is a beautiful country. With rich cuisine, a harmonious people who can work together, a pleasant climate, splendid cities and villages, and pristine jungles, peaks, and seas - it could have been a little garden in a chaotic sea.

But we still need to make it better, so the rakyat will achieve their potential and make this nation, and the world, great.

Selamat Hari Merdeka!

(Kawi is an ancient script used to write the Malay language)

I mentioned a while back that I may from time to time, post a non Thai recipe so hope it’s okay that today I’m making a short hop over the border into Malaysia. Some of you may remember I went on holiday for a few weeks last year to Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi where I spent as much time as possible eating my way through dishes from all the cultures that call Malaysia home.

My husband and I particularly enjoyed the simple rice dishes that we ate for breakfast, such as nasi lemak and this one; nasi goreng kampung (village style fried rice). Although it looks quite a straightforward dish it’s full of very strong flavours; notably salty, fishy and spicy ones. Treat yourself and top your portion off with a freshly cooked crisp fried egg.

For 4 large portions use:

• A large bowl of cold, pre cooked rice
• a large bunch of morning glory (water spinach) cut into 2 inch pieces
• a handful of green beans, cut into small pieces
• 2 large handfuls of dried crispy anchovies (1 handful finely chopped, 1 left whole)
• 4 red chillies, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 small onion, finely sliced
• a big glug of light soy sauce
• a big squeeze of kecap manis (sweet, dark, thick soy sauce)
• vegetable oil for frying

In a deep wok, heat the oil until hot and fry the onion, garlic and chillies until they have some colour (about 2 minutes). Stir fry in the handful of chopped anchovies and green beans (open a window/put on the extractor!), frying for a minute before moving the ingredients to the side of the wok and pouring in the beaten egg. Let the egg begin to set before lightly scrambling. Let it set again, scramble, set, scramble until fully cooked and mix all the ingredients back together. Throw in the morning glory, briefly stir frying for a minute before carefully tipping all the rice in.Pour over the sauces and gently toss and mix all the ingredients, making sure all the rice is well coated and heated through. Have a taste to see if it needs any more sauce and plate up, sprinkling the other handful of dried fish over the steaming rice.