Today’s Google Doodle is a celebration of Malaysia’s national dish Nasi Lemak, traditionally eaten for breakfast in the country. The doodle has taken on a slightly different form to usual, as Google has decided to incorporate a video rather than a simple art piece. This unique take shows each stage of the preparation and cooking process via animation. The video is also an all-around celebration of Malaysian culture, as in the background one can spot batik (Malaysian cloth design) floral patterns.
What is Nasi Lemak?
Google seems to be celebrating nothing more than the fact Nasi Lemak is essentially just a delicious way to start the morning in Malaysia.
Google says: “Today’s Doodle celebrates the rich, fragrant, and spicy dish, known as Nasi Lemak.
“The dish — considered the national dish of Malaysia and widely eaten year-round — is what many Malaysians start their day with.
“Also popular in Singapore and Thailand, the humble delicacy is believed to have originated as a hearty farmer’s breakfast on the west coast of the Malaysian peninsula.”
Google has also expanded on the legendary origins of the dish.
They said: “Although the name translates from Malay as “rich rice” (a reference to the coconut milk included in the recipe) there is another origin story for the name.
“According to legend, the daughter of a widow named Mak Kuntum accidentally spilled coconut milk into the rice pot.
“What did you cook?” Mak asked and her daughter answered.
“Nasi le, Mak!” (Rice, mother!)”
Although the dish is widely eaten at breakfast, it is particularly versatile and can be embellished with other foods for a meal at another time of day.
In its most basic form, Nasi Lemak can be quite light and adding curry, chicken or rendang meat stew are common ways to extend the dish.
Nasi Lemak also comes with condiments specific to Malaysia.
According to the Malaysian Star, these include: “Fried ikan bilis (anchovies), fried peanuts, cucumber slices, wedges of hardboiled egg (variations: fried eggs, or slices of omelette) and sambal (a kind of cooked chili paste, plain with onions or with ikan bilis too).”
Google added another dimension of Malaysian culture to their video, including an upbeat soundtrack also customary to the region.
The background music sounds like a Gamelan orchestra – a traditional set of brass percussive instruments.
Founded in the 10th century, Gamelan instruments are normally played by hand or specially made mallets.
The most common brass instruments are metallophones, and drums are named kendhang.