Mie gomak facts for kids
A plate of Mie Gomak with hard boiled egg.
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | North Sumatra |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Thick Noodle, coconut milk, andaliman, chayote, egg, scallion, shallot |
Mie Gomak is a super tasty and spicy noodle dish from North Sumatra, Indonesia. It's a special food of the Batak people who live around Lake Toba. This dish is also popular in areas like Sibolga and Tapanuli.
What makes Mie Gomak special is its thick noodles. They are called mie lidi, which means "stick noodles." These noodles look a lot like spaghetti pasta. Because of this, some people call Mie Gomak "Batak style spaghetti."
Contents
What Does "Gomak" Mean?
The word gomak comes from the local Batak dialect. It means "grab" or "squeeze." This name comes from how the noodles are prepared. Cooks traditionally grab and squeeze the noodles with their bare hands.
How Mie Gomak is Made
Mie Gomak uses thick noodles made from wheat. When they are dry, they are stiff and solid, just like sticks. That's why they are called mie lidi, because they look like the sticks used to make a broom from coconut palm leaves.
Cooking the Noodles and Soup
The noodles are usually boiled separately until they are soft. Meanwhile, a special spicy soup is prepared. This soup is then poured over the cooked noodles just before serving.
Mie Gomak is often served with a hard-boiled egg on top. Most of the time, you'll find Mie Gomak served in its delicious, spicy soup. This is called mie gomak kuah.
Fried Mie Gomak
There's also another way to enjoy Mie Gomak! Sometimes, the dish is cooked further with less liquid. This makes a "fried" version called mie gomak goreng. It's still super flavorful, but not as soupy.
Main Ingredients
The main parts of Mie Gomak are the boiled stick noodles and a rich, spicy soup. The soup often includes chayote and carrot. It also has special leaves like daun salam (Indonesian bay leaves) and lemongrass. A beaten egg and creamy coconut milk are also important ingredients.
The Spice Mix
The amazing flavor of Mie Gomak comes from its special spice mix, called bumbu. This mix usually has:
- Red chili peppers for heat
- Shallot and garlic for a savory base
- Candlenut to make it creamy
- Turmeric for color and flavor
- Ginger for a warm, zesty taste
- Andaliman, a unique Batak spice that gives a special tingly feeling
- Leek, sugar, salt, and cooking oil
Toppings and Extras
To make Mie Gomak even better, people often add crispy fried shallots on top. You might also find krupuk crackers, which are crunchy snacks. For an extra kick, some people add sambal andaliman, a spicy sauce made with the special andaliman spice.
