What Is Lemang?

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Lemang is a traditional Malay food cooked in bamboo stick. Usually prepared for festivities such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Haji. Lemang is made from glutinous rice (Beras Pulut) that is cooked with coconut milk (santan) inside a piece of bamboo, usually over an open fire. Making lemang is not easy and it requires experience and patience. Banana leaves are cut into strips and rolled up to cover the entire inner surface of the bamboo, leaving the centre empty for the glutinous rice. Uncooked and washed glutinous rice is then poured in until it fills about half the bamboo. Next, a mixture of coconut milk and water is added and the bamboo is placed over an open fire to cook slowly. The bamboo sticks containing the lemang mixture are normally supported by a wooden frame.