Type | Noodle |
---|---|
Place of origin | Malaysia |
Region or state | Sabah |
Main ingredients | Egg noodles, Taucu Gravy, Tofu, Sambal |
Mee Tauhu is a noodle dish commonly associated with Tawau, a major town located in the southeastern part of Sabah, Malaysia. The dish is characterized by its taucu gravy and the inclusion of various types of tofu, contributing to its savory and umami flavor profile. [1]
Mee Tauhu is widely enjoyed throughout Sabah, [2] particularly in the eastern coastal regions such as Tawau, Sandakan, Kunak, Semporna and Lahad Datu. [3] [4] Gaining popularity since the 2000s, it is primarily served as a breakfast dish; it can also be found on lunch and dinner menus, although less frequently. The dish reflects the cultural diversity of the region, incorporating influences from Chinese cuisine as well as local culinary traditions.
The appeal of Mee Tauhu lies in its simplicity and the versatility of its ingredients. The dish can be customised to suit individual preferences, and it has evolved over time to feature a variety of noodles and toppings, enhancing its popularity within Sabah.
The primary components of Mee Tauhu include mee goreng, a savory taucu gravy and an assortment of tofu types. [5] The most common noodles used are yellow noodles, which are stir-fried to achieve a slightly crispy texture. Traditionally, these noodles are served separately from the taucu gravy, allowing diners to control the amount of sauce they prefer. This presentation enhances the dish's appeal, providing a satisfying contrast between the crunchy noodles and the rich gravy.
The taucu gravy is a defining element of Mee Tauhu, made from fermented soybean paste that imparts a distinctive salty and umami flavor. The preparation involves blending taucu with ingredients such as garlic, shallots, and a variety of seasonings, resulting in a rich, aromatic sauce that complements both the noodles and the tofu. [6]
Tofu is a key ingredient in the dish, providing both protein and texture. Various types of tofu are commonly used, including taufu pok (fried tofu puffs), which have a crispy exterior and soft interior, and taufu putih (white tofu), valued for its ability to absorb the flavors of the gravy. In some variations, minced fish paste is stuffed into tofu, chilies, or other vegetables, adding both flavor and substance to the dish. Additionally, grilled or fried tofu may be incorporated to introduce a smoky or crunchy element.
A notable component of Mee Tauhu is sambal, a chili paste served on the side that allows diners to adjust the dish's spiciness according to personal preference. Sambal is typically prepared from ingredients such as chili peppers, garlic, and vinegar, adding both heat and complexity to the overall flavor. [3]
Mee Tauhu features a variety of popular adaptations that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. The dish traditionally consists of yellow noodles and tofu served with a rich taucu gravy; however, many establishments offer unique variations that introduce different textures and flavors. For instance, lighter alternatives such as rice vermicelli or kuey teow, can be substituted for the yellow noodles. This change provides a different mouthfeel and subtly alters the dish's overall flavor profile.
Another notable variation is Mee Tauhu Ikan, which incorporates seafood into the dish. In this version, sliced fish is placed atop the noodles, complementing the taucu gravy with an oceanic flavor. This adaptation is particularly popular in Kunak, Sabah, where local tastes favor seafood-infused meals.
Additionally, some iterations of Mee Tauhu utilize a curry-based gravy instead of the traditional taucu sauce. This adaptation introduces a spicier and more robust flavor profile, appealing to those who prefer a stronger taste. The aromatic spices characteristic of curry dishes provide a distinct culinary experience.
Variations in tofu types also significantly impact the dish's overall enjoyment. Some recipes include grilled or deep-fried tofu, which adds a crunch and a smoky flavor. This textural contrast enhances the dish's appeal, offering a more varied dining experience.
Malaysian cuisine consists of cooking traditions and practices found in Malaysia, and reflects the multi-ethnic makeup of its population. The vast majority of Malaysia's population can roughly be divided among three major ethnic groups: Malays, Chinese and Indians. The remainder consists of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia, the Peranakan and Eurasian creole communities, as well as a significant number of foreign workers and expatriates.
Indonesian cuisine is a collection of various regional culinary traditions that formed in the archipelagic nation of Indonesia. There are a wide variety of recipes and cuisines in part because Indonesia is composed of approximately 6,000 populated islands of the total 17,508 in the world's largest archipelago, with more than 1,300 ethnic groups.
Laksa is a spicy noodle dish popular in Southeast Asia. Laksa consists of various types of noodles, most commonly thick rice noodles, with toppings such as chicken, prawns or fish. Most variations of laksa are prepared with a rich and spicy coconut curry soup or a broth seasoned with asam.
Malay cuisine is the traditional food of the ethnic Malays of Southeast Asia, residing in modern-day Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand and the Philippines as well as Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Fried rice is a dish of cooked rice that has been stir-fried in a wok or a frying pan and is usually mixed with other ingredients such as eggs, vegetables, seafood, or meat. It is often eaten by itself or as an accompaniment to another dish. Fried rice is a popular component of East Asian, Southeast Asian and certain South Asian cuisines, as well as a staple national dish of Indonesia. As a homemade dish, fried rice is typically made with ingredients left over from other dishes, leading to countless variations. Fried rice first developed during the Sui dynasty in China.
Singaporean cuisine is derived from several ethnic groups in Singapore and has developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes in the cosmopolitan city-state.
Yong tau foo is a Hakka Chinese dish consisting primarily of tofu filled with ground meat mixture or fish paste. Variations on this dish feature - instead of tofu - vegetables and mushrooms stuffed with ground meat or fish paste. Yong tau foo is eaten in numerous ways, either dry with a sauce or served as a soup dish.
Tahu goreng or Tauhu goreng is a generic name for any type of fried tofu dish in the cuisines of Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.
Malaysian Chinese cuisine is derived from the culinary traditions of Chinese Malaysian immigrants and their descendants, who have adapted or modified their culinary traditions under the influence of Malaysian culture as well as immigration patterns of Chinese to Malaysia. Because the vast majority of Chinese Malaysians are descendants of immigrants from southern China, Malaysian Chinese cuisine is predominantly based on an eclectic repertoire of dishes with roots from Fujian, Cantonese, Hakka and Teochew cuisines.
Nasi goreng, Malay lit. 'fried rice', is a Southeast Asian rice dish with pieces of meat and vegetables added. It can refer simply to fried pre-cooked rice, a meal including stir fried rice in a small amount of cooking oil or margarine, typically spiced with kecap manis, shallot, garlic, ground shrimp paste, tamarind and chilli and accompanied by other ingredients, particularly egg, chicken and prawns. There is also another kind of nasi goreng which is made with ikan asin which is also popular across Indonesia. Nasi goreng is sometimes described as Indonesian stir-fried rice, although it is also popular in Southeast Asia. Beyond the Malay Archipelago, it has gained popularity through Indonesian influence in Sri Lanka and via Indonesian immigrant communities in Suriname and the Netherlands. It is distinguished from other Asian fried rice recipes by its aromatic, earthy and smoky flavor, owed to generous amount of caramelised sweet soy sauce and powdered shrimp paste, and the taste is stronger and spicier compared to Chinese fried rice.
Fried noodles are common throughout East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Many varieties, cooking styles, and ingredients exist.
Peranakan cuisine or Nyonya cuisine comes from the Peranakans, descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled in Penang, Malacca, Singapore and Indonesia, inter-marrying with local Malays. In Baba Malay, a female Peranakan is known as a nonya, and a male Peranakan is known as a baba. The cuisine combines Chinese, Malay, Javanese, South Indian, and other influences.
Bakso or baso is an Indonesian meatball, or a meat paste made from beef surimi. Its texture is similar to the Chinese beef ball, fish ball, or pork ball. The word bakso may refer to a single meatball or the complete dish of meatball soup. Mie bakso refers to bakso served with yellow noodles and rice vermicelli, while bakso kuah refers to bakso soup served without noodles.
Lontong is an Indonesian dish made of compressed rice cake in the form of a cylinder wrapped inside a banana leaf, commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Rice is rolled inside a banana leaf and boiled, then cut into small cakes as a staple food replacement for steamed rice. The texture is similar to that of ketupat, with the difference being that the ketupat container is made from woven janur fronds, while lontong uses banana leaf instead.
Javanese cuisine is the cuisine of Javanese people, a major ethnic group in Indonesia, more precisely the province of Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java.
Mee goreng, or mi goreng, refers to fried noodles in the Malay-speaking cultures of several countries, such as the Southeast Asian states of Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Ayam goreng is an Indonesian and Malaysian dish consisting of deep-fried chicken in oil. Ayam goreng literally means "fried chicken" in Malay, Indonesian and also in many Indonesian regional languages. Unlike other countries, Indonesian fried chicken usually uses turmeric and garlic as its main ingredients rather than flour.
Mie jawa, also called as mi jawa or bakmi jawa in Indonesia, or mee Jawa in Malaysia is a traditional Javanese style noodle, commonly found in Indonesia and Malaysia. The dish is made of yellow noodle, chicken, vegetables, egg and spices. The recipe however, is slightly different between mie jawa in Indonesia and mee Jawa in Malaysia.
Sarawakian cuisine is a regional cuisine of Malaysia. Similar to the rest of Malaysian cuisine, Sarawak food is based on staples such as rice. There is also a great variety of other ingredients and food preparations due to the influence of the state's varied geography and indigenous cultures quite distinct from the regional cuisines of the Peninsular Malaysia. Sarawak is famous for its multi-ethnic population. As the homeland of many unique communities, Sarawak has a variety of cuisines rarely found elsewhere in Malaysia. The uniqueness of Sarawak well depends on its ethnic groups. Every native group in Sarawak has their own lifestyle, traditions, cultures and also foods. Sarawak cuisine is less spicy and has a subtle in taste. It uses fresh seafood and natural herbs like turmeric, lemongrass, ginger, lime and tapioca leaves. These ingredients are not only easily available, but also add a hint of aroma, texture and freshness to the delicacies. Food is one of the most cultural identities for native groups in Sarawak with each ethnic group having their own delicacies. Among the Iban, popular foods include tubu (stems), tuak and pansuh. The Malay have bubur pedas (porridge) and kek lapis Sarawak ; the Bidayuh have asam siok and sup ponas Bidayuh. The Melanau make tebaloi, sagu and umai and the Orang Ulu are known for garam barrio, kikid (broth), tengayen, and urum giruq (pudding).
Sabahan cuisine is a regional cuisine of Malaysia. As in the rest of Malaysian cuisine, Sabah food is based on staples such as rice with a great variety of other ingredients and different methods of food preparations due to the influence of the state's varied geography and indigenous cultures that were quite distinct from the regional cuisines of the Peninsular Malaysia. Sabah along with its neighbour of Sarawak is famous for their multi-ethnic population.