Curry mee
{{Short description|Southeast Asian noodle dish}}
{{infobox food
| name = Curry mee
| image = Malaysian noodles-Curry Mee-01.jpg
| caption =
| alternate_name =
| region = Maritime Southeast Asia
| national_cuisine = Malaysia and Singapore{{cite book|author=Ken Hom|title=My Kitchen Table: 100 Easy Chinese Suppers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gi_mCIolwCsC|date=5 January 2012|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4464-1725-6}}
| creator =
| course =
| type = Noodle soup
| served =
| main_ingredient = Noodles, sambal (chilli paste), coconut milk, herbs
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
Curry mee ({{langx|ms|mi kari}}; {{zh|first=s|s=咖喱面|t=咖喱麵|j=Gaa3 Lei1 Min6|poj=Ka-lí-mī|p=Gālímiàn}}) is a Maritime Southeast Asian spicy noodle soup garnished with various toppings. In Johor and Singapore, it is sometimes called curry laksa ({{langx|ms|mi kari}}; {{zh|c=咖喱喇沙|j=咖喱叻沙(Gaa3 Lei1 Lek1 Saa1){{cite web|accessdate=4 January 2023|title=叻沙 - Wiktionary|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%BB%E6%B2%99}}|poj=咖喱叻沙(Ka-lí La̍k-sá){{cite web|accessdate=4 January 2023|title=叻沙 - Wiktionary|url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8F%BB%E6%B2%99}}|p=Gālí Lǎshā}}).{{Cite web|title=Curry Mee (Curry Laksa)|url=https://rasamalaysia.com/curry-meecurry-laksa-recipe/|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=Rasa Malaysia|language=en-US}} Numerous variants of the dish, including preparations with a drier or thicker gravy, exist in both the countries of Malaysia and Singapore.
Preparation
A typical preparation of Malaysian/Singaporean-style curry mee consists of thin yellow noodles or rice vermicelli immersed in a spiced broth enriched with coconut milk, accompanied with chilli or sambal relish.{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/eat-drink/2020/02/09/if-you-like-cockles-in-your-curry-mee-head-over-to-this-place-in-klang/1835825|title=If you like cockles in your curry mee, head over to this place in Klang|website=Malay Mail|first=Khang Yi|last=Lee|date=February 9, 2020|access-date=March 30, 2021}} Potential toppings for curry mee include chicken, prawns, cuttlefish, cockles, boiled eggs, pieces of deep fried tofu puffs, fried foo chuk, green beans, bean sprouts and mint leaves.
In Malaysia and Singapore, Chinese-style preparations often include pork products, such as fried lard croutons and cubes of pig blood curd. Curry mee prepared for Muslim customers exclude pork products in compliance of halal dietary laws.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/643846/confirmed-meat-oldtown-white-coffee-not-pork|title=Confirmed: Meat from OldTown White Coffee not pork| website=New Straits Times|author=Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=March 30, 2021}}
=Variants=
Two versions can be found in the northern Malaysian state of Penang, which differs from the Singaporean version in the south: a bright orange chicken curry version, or a pale and thin coconut broth version known as white curry mee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/the-many-faces-of-malaysias-laksa-0|title=Recipes for three variants of laksa: curry laksa, assam laksa and laksa siam| website=Straits Times|author=Suzanne Lazaroo|date=September 4, 2017|access-date=March 30, 2021}} Its capital city of George Town is famous for its curry mee, which is considered a staple favourite among local residents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/03/12/man-who-escaped-gallows-yearns-for-curry-mee|title=Man who escaped gallows yearns for curry mee| work=The Star|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021}} A notable stall in the Ayer Itam area, which was operated by a pair of sisters for over 70 years, is renowned for its version of the dish and its founders have become local cultural icons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/07/06/hopes-to-meet-lim-sisters-at-stall-dashed|title=Hopes to meet Lim sisters at stall dashed| author=Liew Jia Xian|publisher=The Star|date=July 6, 2020|access-date=March 30, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2021/02/20/tasteful-tribute-to-curry-mee-sisters|title=Tasteful tribute to ‘curry mee’ sisters| author=R Sekaran |publisher=The Star|date=February 20, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2021}}
Some versions of the dish are prepared with gravy which is drier and thicker in consistency. The city of Ipoh in Perak state is known for its dry curry noodles, which are often topped with pieces of cooked chicken, char siu or roast pork.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/eat-and-drink/2019/06/27/bowled-over-by-ipohs-curry-noodles/|title=Bowled over by Ipoh’s curry noodles| author=Ivan Loh |publisher=The Star|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2018/06/11/how-to-enjoy-a-perfect-day-trip-in-perak-with-only-rm150/1640675|title=How to enjoy a perfect day trip in Perak with only RM150|website=Malay Mail|first=Chris|last=Mohan|date=June 11, 2018|access-date=March 30, 2021}}
Curry mee is also available as a flavour for commercial instant noodles.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/smebiz/focus/2016/01/18/no-slowing-down|title=No slowing down| author=David Tan |publisher=The Star|date=January 18, 2016|access-date=March 30, 2021}} Unusual variants which trended on social media involve boiling Maggi brand instant curry mee together with Milo powder or serving it with KitKat chocolate bars.{{Cite web|url=https://says.com/my/fun/petron-malaysia-has-a-promo-for-kitkat-dunked-in-maggi-cup|title=Malaysians Are Actually Wanting To Try Petron's New 'Recipe' - KitKat Dunked In Maggi| website=Says.com|author= Tamara Jayne|date=January 10, 2020|access-date=March 30, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://sea.mashable.com/culture/11924/milo-in-maggi-curry-mee-isnt-a-new-food-trend-but-why-does-it-even-exist|title=Milo in Maggi Curry Mee isn't a new food trend, but why does it even exist?| website=Mashable|author=Mae Yen Yap|date=August 12, 2020|access-date=March 30, 2021}}
In Bandung of Indonesia, mie kari consists of beef, potatoes, boiled egg, soybean, emping, bawang goreng, and sweet soy sauce. The ingredients of mie kari are the same as lontong kari dish but the lontong is replaced with noodles.{{cite web |last1=Setya |first1=Devi |title=Bikin Laper! Kepincut Enaknya Lontong dan Mie Kari Legendaris |url=https://food.detik.com/info-kuliner/d-5228556/bikin-laper-kepincut-enaknya-lontong-dan-mie-kari-legendaris |website=detikfood.com |access-date=14 March 2024 |language=Indonesian}}
File:Laksa.JPG|Singapore-style curry mee bought at a Bukit Batok stall, which is also sometimes known as "curry laksa"
File:Ipoh Curry Mee.jpg|Ipoh-style curry mee with soupy consistency
File:Curry Mee at Sister Curry Mee in Penang.jpg|White curry mee from the Lim Sisters' Ayer Itam stall.
See also
- Laksa - spicy noodle dish found in Southeast Aisa
- Khao soi - a curry noodle dish in northern Thailand
- Mie aceh – found in Aceh Province, Indonesia
References
{{reflist}}
{{Portalbar|Food|Malaysia|Singapore}}
{{Malaysian cuisine}}
{{Singaporean cuisine}}
Category:Foods containing coconut
Category:Malaysian noodle dishes