Bakmi is a Chinese egg noodle dish popular in Indonesian cuisine, often including chicken and vegetables. Bakmi ayam is a stir-fry and soup dish, while bakmi goreng is a fried noodle dish with vegetables and egg. Different words for noodles are used interchangeably in Indonesian.
Bakmi is a Chinese word that literally means “meat noodles”. It refers to a kind of egg noodles introduced to Southeast Asia by the Chinese. Today it is most commonly used as part of the name of one of several Indonesian dishes made with those noodles. In addition to noodles, Indonesian bakmi recipes usually include meat, often chicken, and a variety of vegetables. There are many regional and local variations of the dishes.
Discussion of Indonesian noodle dishes can be confusing because there are different words for noodles in Indonesian. Besides “bakmi”, mie and bami also mean noodle and the words are used interchangeably. For example, chicken noodle is sometimes called “bakmi ayam” and sometimes “mie ayam” or “bami ayam”. Regardless of the name used, it is one of the most popular noodle dishes in Indonesian cuisine.
Bakmi ayam has two parts, including a seasoned stir-fry and a broth-based soup. For the fry, chicken and noodles are quickly cooked together with vegetables and a variety of seasonings. The soup consists of chicken broth with meatballs, wontons, or both. Each part of the dish is served in a separate bowl. Many diners dip the noodles and chicken into the broth or add broth to the noodles and chicken.
The vegetables in this dish are usually a blend of bitter and sweet leafy greens. Bok choy and bok choy are two that are often used. Common condiments include shallots, garlic and soy sauce. Kecap manis, Indonesian sweet soy sauce is also frequently added. Ginger and chillies are other possible flavoring ingredients.
Another popular noodle dish is bakmi goreng, or fried noodles. This is a dry mix of chicken, vegetables and noodles, with egg added. The chicken is cooked with garlic, shallots, and other seasonings, and then a soy sauce-based seasoning is added along with the noodles. Once complete, the eggs are cracked into the hot pan and stirred until cooked through, then mixed with the chicken and noodles. Finally, the vegetables are added, which have been slightly pre-cooked.
The vegetables for bakmi goreng can be bok choy, celery, bean sprouts, or anything green and crunchy. Candles, which are high in fat, are often added or, if not available, macadamia nuts can be substituted. Chillies or chili paste are usually added to the dish to spice it up, along with generous amounts of garlic and ginger. Sometimes other types of meat or seafood are added, such as meatballs or sliced shrimp.
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