By: Kafil Yamin
Mie Aceh by Kafil Yamin
Get somebody to chat about Aceh’s separatism or political issues, he or she might instantly frown or shrug off in reluctance. But take him/her to taste the Aceh noodle, you’ll get a smile and exciting response. And if you like to impress people, make the Mie Aceh yourself. It will be a flurry of fun. But make sure your fellows have an appetite for spicy grub. Go to a nearby Asian Market, and you’ll find all the necessary ingredients. Get the following items:
Ingredients
- 200 grams of yellow noodle [easily found in the market].
- Small fresh shrimps
- 125 grams of beef
- Cabbage
- Beansprouts [tauge]
- Chives
- Celery
- Cooking oil
- 1.4 teaspoon of Cardamom
- Beef broth
- 8 shallots
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 red chilies
- Cumin
- Vinegar
- Pepper
- Sweet soy sauce
Condiments
- Fried emping [crackers made of gnetum gnemon]
- Sliced cucumbers
- Fried ground peanuts
- Pickled onions and peppers
Preparation Work
Before you start cooking, you have to set things ready. There are two ways of blending flavours: the traditional way and a practical way. I prefer the former, though it consumes a little bit more energy. But if you prefer things to be more natural, it becomes an exciting process. To do it in the traditional way, you have to crush main flavors: pepper, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, cumin and chili with a mortal & pestle (as opposed to a blender). Add a teaspoon of salt to make the pulverizing easier and faster. Then slice the chives, shallots, garlic and tomatoes.
How to cook Mie Aceh
- Heat up oil in a skillet, saute the garlic, shallots, crushed flavor, shrimps until fragrant. Then put in meat, stir it until the meat changes color.
- Put in tomatoes, stir until well blended, put mustard and cabbage, stir.
- Pour the soy bean sauce, stir and reduce the flame. Put in the noodles, bean sprouts, chives, and celery, stir for about one minute, then turn off the flame.
- Move the friend noodle to a wide plain plate, sprinkle fried beans, fried shallots.
Serve it with separate pickled shallots and sliced cucumber. Now, get your friends to enjoy it with you!
