Summer Cooking

In last week's Times, Mark Bittman suggested 101 quick, 10-minute meals for those summer months when the kitchen does not beckon. On the New York Times website many readers wrote in their own suggestions for quick, delicious meals. The library has many cookbooks specializing in quick cooking. The official subject heading is simply Quick and easy cookery.

My favorite speedy, summer meal option is this personalized version of Nasi Lemak, a Malaysian breakfast that I enjoy eating for dinner. It does take more than 10 minutes to make, but it's worth waiting 20.

Nasi Lemak
Coconut Rice (long grain rice made with equal parts water and coconut milk)
Onions sauteed in vegetable oil (or butter) until soft, then mixed with Sriracha
Raw cucumbers, sliced in thin (or thick) slices
Two or three fried eggs
Dried fish or sardines (I prefer sardines)
Cashews (optional)
Put a mound of coconut rice on a serving platter. Place onions on one side of the rice and cucumbers on the other. Place the fried eggs on top of the rice, and the sardines along side the onions and cucumbers. Cashews can go anywhere at all. Serves two.