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Authentic Mie Aceh

A bold and aromatic noodle dish from Aceh, Indonesia — made with tender beef, fresh vegetables, and a rich, spicy curry-style broth. This comforting bowl of Mie Aceh brings together Southeast Asian heat and deep flavors in every slurp.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 3 people
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Acehnese (Sumatran), Indonesian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 8 oz fresh egg noodles or substitute with fresh ramen or lo mein noodles
  • 5 oz beef sirloin or chuck cut into ½-inch cubes
  • ½ cup bean sprouts
  • ¾ cup water
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil for sautéing
Spice Paste (blend until smooth)
  • 6 red chili peppers use Fresno or red jalapeños for medium heat
  • 6 shallots or ½ medium red onion as a substitute
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 inch fresh turmeric or ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 green cardamom pods optional; skip if unavailable
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp chicken bouillon powder or chicken stock concentrate
Additional Ingredients
  • 1 small tomato cut into wedges
  • 1 green onion scallion, finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley for a milder flavor
  • 2 tbsp sweet soy sauce kecap manis; or mix 1½ tbsp regular soy sauce + 1½ tsp brown sugar

Instruction
 

  1. Sauté the spice paste in vegetable oil over medium heat until fragrant, about 3–5 minutes.
  2. Add the beef to the pan, cook until it changes color.
  3. Pour in the water, then simmer until the beef becomes tender and the liquid reduces to a flavorful sauce (about 10–15 minutes).
  4. Add the noodles, tomato wedges, green onion, cilantro, and sweet soy sauce. Mix well.
  5. Toss in the bean sprouts, stir just until slightly wilted and everything is well combined.
  6. Serve hot, optionally with crispy emping crackers (substitute with tortilla chips or fried shallots) and quick cucumber pickles on the side.

Notes

  • Noodles: Look for fresh egg noodles in the refrigerated section of Asian grocery stores. If unavailable, cooked ramen or lo mein noodles work well.
  • Kecap Manis (Sweet Soy Sauce): This thick, sweet soy sauce is key to Indonesian flavor. You can make a quick version by combining soy sauce and brown sugar (see above).
  • Emping: These nutty, slightly bitter crackers are made from melinjo nuts. If hard to find, replace with fried shallots or enjoy the noodles on their own.