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Malaysian Rice Recipes

53 recipes using rice — Laksa, nasi lemak, char kway teow — a vibrant fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indian flavours.

These 53 malaysian rice recipes are ready in about 70 minutes on average, with 195–780 kcal per serving, and 11% are rated easy enough for a weeknight. Every recipe includes exact ingredient quantities, step-by-step instructions and full nutrition per serving.

53
recipes
70 min
average time
475 kcal
avg per serving
11%
easy recipes

How Malaysian cuisine cooks with rice

Malaysian cuisine — Laksa, nasi lemak, char kway teow — a vibrant fusion of Malay, Chinese and Indian flavours — brings its own distinctive techniques and seasonings to every ingredient it touches. When Malaysian cooks work with rice, they reach for its own regional aromatics, fats and signature spice blends, and the techniques that come up most across these recipes are simmering, frying, boiling and stir-frying.

The everyday grain for half the planet — a neutral base that soaks up the flavours around it, from pilafs to fried rice. In this collection it's most often cooked with garlic, lemongrass, onion, coconut milk, fine sea salt and cilantro. The dishes here span malaysian classics ready in as little as 25 minutes to slower, more involved cooking that rewards a relaxed afternoon.

Reader favourite: Penang Assam Laksa is the highest-rated dish in this collection at 4.9★ from 2,987 ratings.

53 Malaysian Rice Recipes

✨ Newsoup

Laksa

Malaysia's most celebrated noodle soup — a rich, spiced coconut milk broth fragrant with lemongrass, galangal and turmeric, served with prawns, tofu and rice noodles.

70 min🔥 560 kcalMedium
4.9(2,034)
✨ Newdinner

Char Kway Teow

Malaysia's iconic wok-fried flat rice noodle dish — charred with dark soy sauce, prawns, cockles, Chinese sausage and egg over screaming-hot heat.

35 min🔥 650 kcalMedium
4.8(1,678)
✨ Newlunch

Penang Assam Laksa

Tangy, pungent tamarind-soured fish broth with thick rice noodles, pineapple, herbs and shrimp paste — Penang's most iconic dish and one of the world's great noodle soups.

75 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
4.9(2,987)
breakfast

Nasi Lemak

Malaysia's national dish — fragrant coconut rice served with crispy fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber, hard-boiled egg, and fiery sambal in a banana leaf parcel.

70 min🔥 580 kcalMedium
4.9(2,450)
dinner

Laksa Lemak

Malaysia's most iconic noodle soup — a rich, spicy coconut broth with thick rice noodles, shrimp, tofu puffs, and a complex rempah spice paste, a meal of extraordinary depth.

105 min🔥 580 kcalHard
4.9(1,780)
dinner

Char Kway Teow

Malaysia's iconic stir-fried flat noodles — thick rice noodles tossed over roaring heat with prawns, Chinese sausage, egg, bean sprouts, and dark soy in a scorching wok.

25 min🔥 620 kcalHard
4.9(2,130)
dinner

Malaysian Char Siu (Barbecue Pork)

Sticky, caramelized Cantonese-Malaysian barbecue pork with a lacquered glaze of hoisin, honey, and five-spice.

515 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
4.8(387)
soup

Malaysian Curry Laksa

Rich, spicy coconut curry noodle soup with shrimp, tofu puffs, and bean sprouts — a Malaysian masterpiece.

70 min🔥 480 kcalMedium
4.9(421)
dinner

Malaysian Banana Leaf Rice

South Indian-Malaysian feast served on a banana leaf with rice, rasam, curries, and crispy papadum.

150 min🔥 680 kcalHard
4.8(234)
🔥 Trendingdinner

Char Kuey Teow

Penang's iconic stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, cockles, Chinese sausage and egg — cooked over ferocious heat for maximum wok hei.

25 min🔥 540 kcalHard
4.8(1,654)
🔥 Trendingbreakfast

Nasi Lemak Ayam

Malaysia's national dish — coconut rice with crispy fried chicken, sambal, cucumber, fried anchovies and boiled egg.

70 min🔥 680 kcalMedium
4.9(987)
🔥 Trendinglunch

Penang Asam Laksa

Penang's iconic sour fish laksa — a tamarind-based rice noodle soup with flaked mackerel and fresh herbs.

100 min🔥 480 kcalHard
4.9(743)
dinner

Char Kway Teow

Malaysian wok-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts and soy — street food perfection.

30 min🔥 580 kcalMedium
4.8(876)
lunch

Penang Char Koay Teow (Stir-Fried Flat Noodles)

Iconic Penang stir-fried flat rice noodles with shrimp, bean sprouts, and egg in a savory soy sauce.

30 min🔥 520 kcalMedium
4.9(534)
breakfast

Ipoh Sar Hor Fun (Chicken Noodle Soup)

Creamy, chicken-based noodle soup from Ipoh with smooth rice noodles and poached chicken.

50 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
4.7(289)
lunch

Perak Nasi Kuning (Turmeric Rice)

Fragrant turmeric-infused rice with coconut milk from Perak state, served with sambal and curry.

35 min🔥 340 kcalEasy
4.8(356)
✨ Newlunch

Nasi Lemak (Malaysian Coconut Rice with Sambal)

Malaysia's beloved national dish — fragrant pandan-scented coconut rice served with fiery sambal, crispy anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and egg.

75 min🔥 720 kcalMedium
4.9(1,420)
✨ Newlunch

Sarawak Laksa (Malaysian Borneo Spiced Noodle Soup)

Borneo's most famous noodle soup — rice vermicelli in a fragrant coconut-tamarind broth topped with chicken, prawns, omelette ribbons and bean sprouts.

90 min🔥 740 kcalHard
4.8(920)
✨ Newdessert

Malaysian Cendol (Pandan Jelly Coconut Shaved Ice)

Malaysia's iconic hawker dessert — green pandan rice jelly worms over shaved ice, drowned in coconut milk and dark palm sugar syrup.

45 min🔥 460 kcalMedium
4.8(1,190)
dinner

Curry Laksa

Malaysian spicy coconut noodle soup with shrimp, chicken, and tofu puffs — fragrant, fiery, soul-satisfying.

60 min🔥 780 kcalMedium
4.9(2,640)
✨ Newlunch

Laksa (Malaysian Spiced Coconut Noodle Soup)

Malaysia's most iconic noodle soup: thick rice noodles in a rich, spicy coconut broth fragrant with lemongrass, galangal, and shrimp.

85 min🔥 620 kcalHard
4.9(1,482)
✨ Newdessert

Kuih Lapis (Malaysian Layered Steamed Cake)

Jewel-toned steamed layer cake of rice flour and coconut milk — a Malaysian festive sweet that tests patience and rewards it beautifully.

80 min🔥 195 kcalHard
4.8(394)
✨ Newdessert

Cendol (Malaysian Pandan Jelly Dessert Drink)

Shaved ice dessert with rice flour pandan noodles, coconut milk, and gula melaka palm sugar — Malaysia's most refreshing sweet.

35 min🔥 320 kcalMedium
4.9(672)
✨ Newdessert

Kuih Tradisional: Onde-Onde, Ang Ku and Pulut Inti

A master recipe for three classic Malaysian market sweets — pandan coconut rice balls, red turtle cakes, and steamed sticky rice with coconut topping.

90 min🔥 280 kcalMedium
4.8(356)
✨ Newlunch

Penang Lemon Herb Grain Bowl

Penang Lemon Herb Grain Bowl turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete grain bowl with salmon, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

30 min🔥 380 kcalHard
4.5(8,060)
✨ Newsoup

Kuala Lumpur Smoky Tomato Soup

Kuala Lumpur Smoky Tomato Soup turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete soup with white fish, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

51 min🔥 401 kcalMedium
4.5(8,091)
✨ Newdinner

Malacca Sesame Lime Stew

Malacca Sesame Lime Stew turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete stew with chicken legs, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

62 min🔥 422 kcalMedium
4.6(8,122)
✨ Newdinner

Sabah Charred Pepper Noodles

Sabah Charred Pepper Noodles turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete noodle dish with wheat noodles, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

73 min🔥 443 kcalEasy
4.7(8,153)
✨ Newsalad

Sarawak Green Herb Salad

Sarawak Green Herb Salad turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete salad with grilled chicken, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

46 min🔥 464 kcalMedium
4.8(8,184)
✨ Newdinner

Kelantan Smoky Tomato Traybake

Kelantan Smoky Tomato Traybake turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete traybake with sweet potatoes, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

51 min🔥 506 kcalHard
4.4(8,246)
✨ Newsnack

Johor Sesame Lime Fritters

Johor Sesame Lime Fritters turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete fritters with salted fish, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

53 min🔥 527 kcalMedium
4.5(8,277)
✨ Newbreakfast

Langkawi Charred Pepper Breakfast Plate

Langkawi Charred Pepper Breakfast Plate turns malaysian pantry flavors into a complete breakfast plate with yogurt, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

42 min🔥 548 kcalMedium
4.5(8,308)
✨ Newlunch

Malaysian Market Lemon Herb Rice Bowl

Malaysian Market Lemon Herb Rice Bowl brings malaysian flavor to a practical rice bowl built with chicken thighs, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

32 min🔥 385 kcalHard
4.5(7,740)
✨ Newsoup

Malaysian Village Smoky Tomato Soup

Malaysian Village Smoky Tomato Soup brings malaysian flavor to a practical soup built with mushrooms, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

55 min🔥 406 kcalMedium
4.5(7,769)
✨ Newdinner

Malaysian Garden Sesame Lime Skillet

Malaysian Garden Sesame Lime Skillet brings malaysian flavor to a practical skillet dinner built with cauliflower, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

66 min🔥 427 kcalMedium
4.6(7,798)
✨ Newdinner

Malaysian Harbor Charred Pepper Noodles

Malaysian Harbor Charred Pepper Noodles brings malaysian flavor to a practical noodle dish built with rice noodles, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

77 min🔥 448 kcalEasy
4.7(7,827)
✨ Newsalad

Malaysian Mountain Green Herb Salad

Malaysian Mountain Green Herb Salad brings malaysian flavor to a practical salad built with grilled chicken, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

48 min🔥 469 kcalMedium
4.8(7,856)
✨ Newdinner

Malaysian Homestyle Smoky Tomato Traybake

Malaysian Homestyle Smoky Tomato Traybake brings malaysian flavor to a practical traybake built with sweet potatoes, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

55 min🔥 511 kcalHard
4.4(7,914)
✨ Newsnack

Malaysian Street Sesame Lime Fritters

Malaysian Street Sesame Lime Fritters brings malaysian flavor to a practical fritters built with salted fish, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

55 min🔥 532 kcalMedium
4.5(7,943)
✨ Newbreakfast

Malaysian Golden Charred Pepper Breakfast Plate

Malaysian Golden Charred Pepper Breakfast Plate brings malaysian flavor to a practical breakfast plate built with beans, lemongrass, coconut milk, tamarind and chile paste, and a fresh cilantro finish.

44 min🔥 553 kcalMedium
4.5(7,972)
✨ Newlunch

Nasi Lemak (Malaysian Coconut Rice Bowl)

Fragrant coconut and pandan rice served with sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts and boiled egg, Malaysia's beloved national dish.

55 min🔥 520 kcalMedium
4.6(38)
✨ Newdinner

Char Kway Teow (Malaysian Stir-Fried Flat Noodles)

Flat rice noodles stir-fried hard and fast with shrimp, egg, bean sprouts and dark soy sauce, a beloved Malaysian hawker-stall classic.

35 min🔥 520 kcalMedium
4.6(40)
✨ Newsnack

Cucur Udang (Malaysian Shrimp Fritters)

Crispy fried fritters of bean sprouts and shrimp in a light turmeric batter, a beloved Malaysian tea-time snack.

35 min🔥 260 kcalEasy
4.3(20)
✨ Newdessert

Cendol (Malaysian Coconut Milk and Pandan Jelly Dessert)

Green pandan jelly noodles served in coconut milk with palm sugar syrup and shaved ice, a refreshing Malaysian iced dessert.

45 min🔥 320 kcalMedium
4.5(29)
✨ Newdinner

Satay Malaysia (Grilled Skewered Meat with Peanut Sauce)

Skewered turmeric-marinated meat grilled over charcoal, served with rich peanut sauce, cucumber and compressed rice, a Malaysian icon.

255 min🔥 520 kcalMedium
4.6(38)
✨ Newstarter

Malaysian Chee Cheong Fun (Steamed Rice Noodle Rolls)

Silky steamed rice flour rolls served with sweet dark soy sauce and chile, a beloved Malaysian-Chinese breakfast and snack.

50 min🔥 220 kcalMedium
4.4(23)
✨ Newdinner

Nasi Goreng Kampung (Malaysian Village-Style Fried Rice)

Spicy anchovy fried rice with egg and vegetables, a rustic Malaysian village-style version bolder and more chile-forward than typical fried rice.

35 min🔥 460 kcalEasy
4.4(25)
✨ Newbreakfast

Malaysian Bubur Ayam with Fresh Mint

Silky Malaysian chicken rice porridge topped with fresh mint, crispy shallots, and shredded chicken.

57 min🔥 397 kcalMedium
4.2(49)
✨ Newsnack

Malaysian Kuih Bahulu-Style Rice Cakes with Black Pepper

Small, golden Malaysian rice flour cakes with a savory black pepper twist on the classic sweet snack.

59 min🔥 258 kcalEasy
4.3(53)
✨ Newdinner

Malaysian Nasi Goreng Kampung (Village Fried Rice)

Smoky, spicy village-style fried rice with sambal, tomato and a crispy fried egg on top.

40 min🔥 480 kcalMedium
4.6(54)
✨ Newlunch

Malaysian Nasi Ulam (Herb Rice) Bowl

Fragrant rice tossed with a dozen fresh herbs, toasted coconut and sambal, a traditional Malay herb rice.

45 min🔥 360 kcalMedium
4.5(34)
✨ Newdinner

Malaysian Curry Fish Head Rice Bowl

Fish simmered in a rich, spiced tomato-curry sauce, served over rice, inspired by Malaysian curry fish head.

70 min🔥 480 kcalHard
4.6(49)
✨ Newdinner

Malaysian-Style Stuffed Peppers with Sambal Rice and Basil

Bell peppers stuffed with spicy sambal fried rice and fresh basil, baked until tender.

65 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
4.4(33)

Choosing & preparing rice

How to choose

Choose by use: long-grain (basmati, jasmine) for fluffy, separate grains; short-grain for risotto and sushi where stickiness is wanted. Aged basmati cooks longer and fluffier.

Prep & storage

Rinse until the water runs clear to wash off surface starch and prevent clumping. The absorption method — a fixed water ratio, lid on, then a 10-minute steam off the heat — gives reliable results.

Nutrition

A gluten-free carbohydrate staple; brown and wild varieties keep the bran for extra fibre, B vitamins and minerals.

Classic flavour partners: onion, garlic, saffron, peas, soy sauce, cumin

Malaysian Rice Recipes — FAQ

How long do Malaysian rice recipes take to make?

Most of these 53 Malaysian rice recipes are ready in around 70 minutes from start to finish. The quickest, Char Kway Teow, takes about 25 minutes, while the slower-cooked dishes run up to 515 minutes.

How many calories are in Malaysian rice dishes?

Across this collection they range from about 195 to 780 kcal per serving, averaging 475 kcal — Kuih Lapis (Malaysian Layered Steamed Cake) is the lightest option at 195 kcal.

What is the easiest Malaysian rice recipe for beginners?

Perak Nasi Kuning (Turmeric Rice) is a great place to start — it's rated easy and comes together in about 35 minutes. 11% of the recipes here are beginner-friendly.

What goes well with rice in Malaysian cooking?

In these recipes, rice is most often paired with garlic, lemongrass, onion, coconut milk, fine sea salt and cilantro. Malaysian kitchens also lean on its own regional aromatics, fats and signature spice blends.

More Malaysian Recipes by Ingredient

Rice Recipes from Other Cuisines