Acehnese cuisine facts for kids

Acehnese cuisine is the yummy food from the Acehnese people who live in Aceh, a special region in Sumatra, Indonesia. This food is super popular all over Indonesia! Long ago, traders from Arab countries, Persia, and India brought their cooking ideas to Aceh. Even though the flavors have changed over time, you can still taste their influence.

Acehnese food uses lots of spices, just like Indian and Arab cuisine. You'll find ginger, pepper, coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and fennel. Many Acehnese dishes are cooked with rich curry sauces or creamy coconut milk. They often mix these with meats like buffalo, beef, goat, lamb, fish, or chicken.

Mi aceh, common Acehnese fried noodles

Acehnese Food Pictures

Ayam tangkap

Bubur asyura

Kuwah pliek u

Bhôi

Keukarah

Meuseukat

Roti cane kari kambing

Kopi sanger

Delicious Acehnese Foods

Acehnese cuisine has many different kinds of dishes, from main meals to sweet treats and refreshing drinks. Let's explore some of them!

Main Dishes

• Asam sunti: This is a special seasoning made from sour star fruit and salt. It adds a tangy kick!
• Ayam tangkap: Imagine crispy fried chicken served with lots of fried leaves like temurui and pandan. It's super crunchy and flavorful.
• Bubur asyura: A warm, comforting porridge made from different grains.
• Bubur sumsum: A white, soft porridge made from rice flour. It's usually eaten with a sweet brown sugar sauce.
• Gulai: This is a type of curry dish. It can be made with chicken, goat, beef, fish, or even vegetables like cassava leaves.
• Gulai ayam: A tasty chicken curry.
• Gulai kepala ikan: A unique curry made with fish heads.
• Kanji rumbi: A rice porridge, much like the popular Indonesian bubur ayam.
• Ketupat: A cool rice dumpling cooked inside a woven diamond-shaped pouch made from palm leaves.
• Keumamah: A fish dish often made with skipjack tuna.
• Kuwah beulangong: A rich curry made with mutton or goat meat.
• Kuwah eungkôt yèe: A special shark gulai. It uses unique herbs and spices, like temurui leaves.
• Kuwah iték: A delicious duck curry.
• Kuwah pliëk-u: A gulai-like dish that uses a special oilcake. It also has long beans, peanuts, papaya leaves, and other veggies.
• Kuwah udeuëng: A yummy shrimp curry.
• Martabak: This is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread. It's often filled with beef and green onions.
• Martabak aceh: The Acehnese version of martabak. It looks a bit like roti canai and is served with curries.
• Masam keu’euëng: A dish that is both sour and spicy.
• Mi aceh: A famous spicy noodle dish with a rich curry flavor. It's packed with spices!
• Mi caluk: Noodles served with a thick, spicy sauce. The sauce is made from tomatoes, chili, coconut milk, and peanuts.
• Mi kari: Another delicious curry noodle dish.
• Mi rebus: The Acehnese way of making boiled noodles.
• Nasi biryani: Acehnese-style flavored rice. It's cooked or served with mutton, chicken, or fish curry.
• Nasi goreng aceh: Fried rice that's super spicy and full of flavor, just like mie aceh.
• Nasi gurih: Steamed rice cooked in creamy coconut milk and spices. It's very fragrant!
• Nasi kari: Rice served with a side of curry.
• Roti cane: A thin, flaky flatbread cooked on a hot pan. It's usually served with tasty curries.
• Roti jala: A pretty dish that looks like a lace doily. It's made by drizzling batter and is often served with curry.
• Sambai asam udeuëng: A sour and spicy shrimp dish.
• Satay: Small pieces of seasoned meat, skewered and grilled. They are served with a yummy sauce.
• Sate matang: A type of satay made from goat meat.
• Sie reuboh: A stew made from beef or water buffalo with lots of spices.

Snacks and Desserts

• Apam: A traditional steamed cake made from rice flour, coconut milk, and palm sugar. It's often served with grated coconut.
• Bhôi: A special Acehnese cake.
• Keukarah: A traditional cake that looks like a bird's nest! It's made from flour and coconut milk.
• Meuseukat: A sweet, chewy cake similar to dodol, but made with pineapple.
• Pulôt: A traditional cake made from sticky rice and turmeric.
• Roti tisu: A super thin version of roti canai, almost like tissue paper!
• Timphan: A steamed banana dumpling. It's made with sticky rice flour, mashed banana, and coconut milk.

Beverages

• Kopi aceh: A traditional Acehnese coffee.
• Kopi gayo: A type of coffee made from Arabica coffee beans.
• Kopi sanger: A unique coffee drink made by mixing black coffee, condensed milk, and sugar.
• Kopi tarik: A coffee that's dark roasted and sweetened with condensed milk. It's "pulled" to make it frothy and delicious.
• Teh tarik: A hot, frothy milk tea beverage, also "pulled" to mix it well.

See Also

• Acehnese people
• Indonesian cuisine