Gulai

Gulai is a class of spicy and rich stew commonly found in Indonesia,^[4] Malaysia and Singapore. The main ingredients of this dish are usually poultry, goat meat, beef, mutton, various kinds of offal, fish and seafood, as well as vegetables such as cassava leaves, unripe jackfruit and banana stem.

Gulai is often described as Indonesian curry,^{[8][2][9][10]} although it is also considered a local dish in Malaysia and Singapore. Gulai is a common name to refer to curry dishes in the country,^[1] although Indonesian, Malaysian, and Singaporean cuisine also recognise kari (curry). In Javanese-Surinamese cuisine it is known as guleh.^[11]

Ingredients

The gulai sauces commonly have a thick consistency with a yellowish colour because of the addition of ground turmeric. Gulai sauce ingredients consist of rich spices such as turmeric, coriander, black pepper, galangal, ginger, chilli pepper, shallot, garlic, fennel, lemongrass, cinnamon and caraway, ground into paste and cooked in coconut milk with the main ingredients.^[4][12] In Malaysia, kerisik is also added to thicken the gravy.^[13]

Gulai recipes and ingredients are slightly different across the archipelago. For example the colour of gulai in Java is mostly light yellow, while in Sumatra, it has a more reddish tone. In Palembang, the gulai composes of ingredients such as garlic, shallot, turmeric, turmeric leaf, and pineapple. In Minangkabau lands of West Sumatra, the ruku-ruku leaf (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is a must-use ingredient, while in its Javanese counterpart, the coriander is favoured. Another difference is that tamarind is often added in Javanese gulai called gule, giving it a slightly sourer taste than other versions of gulai.^[14]

History

Gulai originated on the island of Sumatra,^[1] Indonesia and is thought to be a local adaptation of Indian curry, having developed and derived from Indian influence on Southeast Asia. The dish is widely served in the Malay Archipelago, especially in Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Java and Borneo. The thick and yellowish gulai sauce is one of the most common sauces found in Minangkabau cuisine, used to give a rich and spicy taste to meats, fish, and vegetables. Gulai is often described as succulent and spicy, yet subtly combining flavours of different spices into one suave and smooth taste which makes it difficult to figure out the individual spices used.^[15]

The ingredients are simmered and slowly cooked in coconut milk, a mixture of spices and chili pepper. The thick golden, yellowish, succulent and spicy gulai sauce has become a hallmark that can be seen on window displays of restaurant establishments in Padang, Indonesia. In Padang, smart cooking means being capable of preparing gulai. Rendang (beef simmered in coconut milk and spices), asam padeh (sour and spicy stew) and kalio (watery and light-coloured gravy) are often considered as variations of Padang gulai.^[16]

In Malaysia, asam pedas, a popular Malay sour fish soup is sometimes called gulai tumis. In the states of Perak and Pahang, gulai tempoyak, a local specialty is commonly served as a daily meal and a meal for festive celebrations such as Hari Raya and wedding ceremonies.^[7] Negeri Sembilan is well known nationwide for its spicy dishes. Masak lemak cili api, a type of gulai made with coconut milk spiced with turmeric and bird's eye chili, is described as the hallmark of Negeri Sembilanese cuisine. In some restaurants, roti canai (which is usually served with curry) might also be served with gulai.

The gulai sauce found in Minangkabau, Acehnese, and Malay cuisine usually has a thicker consistency than the gulai sauce found in Java which is thinner, served in soup-like dishes containing pieces of mutton, beef or offal.^[4][3] Gulai is usually served with steamed rice.

Variations

Gulai recipes can be found in various cooking traditions across the Indonesian Archipelago; such as Minangkabau, Malay, Acehnese and Javanese cuisine. However, gulai recipes show exceptional diversity in West Sumatra.^[17] Some variations of gulai include:

Gallery

• Gulai variants
• 
  Gulai kambing, goat gulai, a Padang food
• 
  Gulai cancang, chopped meat gulai, a Padang food
• 
  Gulai tambunsu, intestine gulai sold in Bukittinggi
• 
  Gulai banak or gulai otak, brain gulai, a nasi kapau dish
• 
  Gulai limpo, cow's spleen gulai, a Minangkabau dish
• 
  Gulai gajeboh, cow's hump fat gulai, specialty of Kapau, West Sumatra
• 
  Gulai tunjang, cow's trotters gulai, sold in Bukittinggi
• 
  Gulai babat, tripes gulai, a Padang food
• 
  Gulai kerapu, grouper gulai, a Padang Pariaman food
• 
  Gulai kapalo lauak, fish head gulai, a Minang dish
• 
  Gulai kepala ikan, fish head gulai, an Aceh version
• 
  Gulai sotong, squid gulai
• 
  Gulai udang, shrimp gulai, a Padang dish
• 
  Gulai ayam, this one is a Javanese version chicken gulai
• 
  Gulai cubadak, unripe jackfruit gulai
• 
  Gulai jariang, jengkol gulai, a Padang food
• 
  Gulai tempe jo tahu, tofu and tempeh gulai
• 
  Gulai sukun, breadfruit gulai
• 
  Gule kambing, goat meat Javanese gulai, It is served with goat satay

See also

• Asam pedas
• Cuisine of Indonesia
• Cuisine of Malaysia
• Ginataan
• Goulash
• Jjigae
• Padang cuisine
• Thai curry

References

External links

• Red snapper's head gulai recipe Archived 30 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Indonesian)
• Goat meat gulai recipe Archived 21 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Indonesian)

• v
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Indonesian cuisine by ethnicity

Dishes

Common Indonesian dishes	Abon Acar Ayam bakar Ayam goreng Ayam kecap Ayam kodok Bakmi Bakpau Bakso Bakwan Bihun goreng Bubur ayam Bubur kacang hijau Bubur ketan hitam Bubur sumsum Gado-gado Gorengan Gulai Ikan asin Ikan bakar Ikan goreng Jagung rebus Kacang rebus Kari Kari ayam Kari domba Kari kambing Kari udang Kuaci Ketupat Laksa Lontong Macaroni schotel Martabak Mi bakso Mi goreng Mi kuah Nasi campur Nasi goreng Nasi kari Nasi kuning Nasi bakar Otak-otak Panekuk Pastel tutup Perkedel Perkedel jagung Pindang Rendang Rijsttafel Roti bakar Roti bolen Roti meses Rujak Sambal Sambal goreng udang Satay Sayur bayam Sayur sop Semur Serundeng Sop buntut Soto Soto ayam Soto mi Sup ayam Sup ercis Sup makaroni Sup wortel Tahu Tahu goreng Telur asin Telur pindang Tempeh Tumis kangkung Tumpeng
Acehnese	Meuseukat Mi aceh Mi caluk Nasi gurih Sate matang
Arab	Asida Falafel Hummus Kofta Manakish Katayef Nasi kabsah Nasi mandi Maamoul Marak Roti maryam Roti pita Saltah Shawarma Tabbouleh Tharid
Balinese	Babi guling Betutu Be urutan Iga babi Laklak Lawar Matah Nasi bali Nasi jinggo Pai susu Rawon babi Rujak kuah pindang Sate babi Sate lilit Soto babi Tipat cantok
Banjarese	Bingka Laksa banjar Pekasam Soto banjar
Batak	Arsik Babi panggang Karo Dali ni horbo Dengke mas na niura Itak gurgur Lampet Manuk napinadar Mi gomak Na tinombur Ombusombus Pagit-pagit Pohulpohul Saksang Sasagun Sate kerang Tipatipa Tuktuk
Betawi	Asinan betawi Bubur cha cha Kerak telor Ketoprak Ketupat sayur Laksa betawi Lontong sayur Mi kangkung Nasi goreng kambing Nasi kebuli Nasi uduk Nasi ulam Pindang Roti buaya Roti gambang Rujak juhi Sate taichan Sayur asem Semur jengkol Soto betawi Soto kaki Soto tangkar Sup kambing
Buginese and Makassar	Burasa Coto makassar Dangke Jalangkote Kaledo Konro Mi kering Pallubasa Sop saudara
Chinese	Babi hong Babi kecap Bak kut teh Bakkwa Banmian Bihun goreng Cakwe Cap cai Chai tow kway Char kway teow Cha sio Fu yung hai Fish ball Haisom cah Ifumi Kembang tahu Kepiting saus tiram Kuaci Kwetiau ayam Kwetiau goreng Kwetiau siram sapi Lapchiong Locupan Lontong cap go meh Lumpia Mi ayam Mi lor Mi pangsit Mi tarik Mun tahu Nasi ayam hainan Nasi bebek Nasi campur Nasi tim Ngo hiang Pangsit Popiah Rujak shanghai Sapo tahu Sate babi Sekba Siomay Soto Sup hisit Sup sarang burung Swikee Tahu sumedang Tauge ayam Tee long pan Telur pitan Telur teh Tong sui Yong tau fu Yusheng
Cirebonese	Empal gentong Docang Kue gapit Mi koclok Nasi jamblang Nasi lengko Tahu gejrot
Gorontalese	Binte biluhuta Sate Tuna Ayam iloni Sagela Ilahe Bilentango Sate Balanga Ilabulo Nasi kuning cakalang Buburu Bubur sagela Nasi goreng sagela Tabu Moitomo Ikan iloni Pilitode
Indian	Ayam mentega Ayam tandori Chapati Chutney Dosa Idli Laddu Kari kambing Kari kepala ikan Korma Modak Naan Nasi biryani Raita Roti canai Sambar Samosa Satti Sorru
Indo	Ayam kodok Babi panggang Bitterballen Erwtensoep Hutspot Makaroni schotel Oliebol Ontbijtkoek Pannenkoek Poffertjes Shepherd's pie Spekkoek
Javanese	Apem Arem-arem Ayam bumbu rujak Ayam geprek Ayam goreng kalasan Ayam penyet Bakso Bakpia Bakpia pathok Botok Brongkos Buntil Gudeg Iga penyet Kamir Kelan antep Krechek Kuluban Lepet Lontong balap Lontong dekem Lontong kupang Lumpia Lumpia goreng Lumpia semarang Sumpia Mendoan Mi bakso Mi goreng Mi jawa Mi rebus Nasi ambeng Nasi bebek Nasi bogana Nasi empal Nasi gandul Nasi goreng Nasi goreng jawa Nasi kare Nasi kucing Nasi liwet Nasi megono Nasi pecel Nasi tempong Opor Opor ayam Pecel Pecel ayam Pecel lele Rambak petis Rawon Roti ganjel rel Roti konde Rujak cingur Rujak soto Sambal ulek Sate ambal Sate blora Sate kambing Sate hati Sate kelinci Sate kikil Sate klatak Sate madura Sate ponorogo Sate tegal Sate udang Sayur lodeh Selat solo Serundeng Soto babat Soto ceker Tahu campur Telur pindang Tempe bacem Tempe goreng Tempe mendoan Timlo [id] Tongseng Trancam Tumpeng Urap
Madurese	Rujak Rujak cingur Sate madura Serundeng Soto madura
Malay	Amplang Ayam goreng Ayam pansuh Bubur cha cha Bubur pedas Cincalok Epok-epok Gulai Ikan bakar Ikan patin Kangkung belacan Kari Kemplang Laksa Mi kari Mi rebus Nasi berlauk Nasi briyani Nasi dagang Nasi goreng Nasi goreng pattaya Nasi lemak Nasi minyak Otak-otak Pekasam Pulut Roti canai Roti jala Roti john Roti tisu Sayur lodeh Siput gonggong Soto Sup kambing Tahu goreng Tempoyak Ulam
Minahasan	Ayam rica-rica Brenebon Cakalang fufu Dabu-dabu Klappertaart Mi cakalang Nasi kuning Panada Paniki Rica-rica Rintek wuuk Tinorangsak Tinutuan Woku
Minangkabau	Asam pedas Ayam pop Balado Daun ubi tumbuk Dendeng Gulai Gulai ayam Gulai kambing Gulai otak Kalio Kepiting saus padang Keripik sanjai Lemang Lontong gulai pakis Nasi kapau Nasi kari Nasi padang Palai bada Rendang Sambal lada muda Sate padang Soto padang Udang balado
Moluccan and Papuan	Asida Babi bakar Bibingka Colo-colo Papeda Puding sagu Sagu Soto ambon
Palembang	Burgo Gulai Kemplang Laksan Lakso Mi celor Nasi minyak Otak-otak Pempek Pindang Tekwan Tempoyak ikan patin
Peranakan	Bubur cha cha Cincalok Laksa Pai ti Swikee
Sasak	Ayam taliwang Plecing kangkung Sate ampet Sate belut Sate pusut
Sundanese	Asinan bogor Batagor Empal gepuk Karedok Kupat tahu Laksa bogor Laksa tangerang Lalab Mi kocok Nasi timbel Nasi tutug oncom Oncom Pepes Rujak tumbuk Sate bandeng Sate maranggi Sayur asem Seblak Soto bandung Tauge goreng Uli bakar
Timorese	Feijoada Ikan bakar Katemak Pastel de nata Se'i

Snacks

Krupuk

Amplang Emping Kemplang Krupuk Krupuk ikan Krupuk kulit Krupuk udang Kripik Kripik sanjai Rempeyek Rengginang

Kue

Agar-agar Apam Ape Arem-arem Asida Bagea Bahulu Bakcang Bakpau Bakpia Bakpia pathok Bangkit Bibingka Bika ambon Bingka Bitterballen Bolen Bolu gulung Bolu kukus Bolu pandan Bugis Bulan Busa Cakwe Cilok Clorot Cubit Cucur Dadar gulung Dodol Donat jawa Donat kentang Gapit Geplak Gethuk Jalangkote Jemput-jemput Kaak Kaasstengels Kamir Karipap Kembang goyang Keranjang Klappertaart Klepon Kochi Kroket Ku Kukis jagung Laddu Laklak Lapis Lapis legit Leker Lemper Lidah kucing Lumpia Lumpia goreng Lumpia semarang Sumpia Lupis Madumongso Makmur Martabak Mangkok Mochi Modak Nagasari Nastar Ombusombus Onde-onde Pai susu Pai ti Panada Pancong Pastel Pastel de nata Pinyaram Pisang cokelat Pisang goreng Poffertjes Popiah Pukis Putri salju Putu Putu mangkok Putu mayang Rangi Rempah udang Risoles Samosa Satu Semar mendem Semprit Semprong Serabi Seri muka Sus Spekulaas Stroopwafel Talam Tapai Timphan Terang bulan Untir-untir Wajik Wingko

Beverages

Alcoholic

Arak Beer Brem Cap tikus Ciu Lapen Saguer Sopi Tuak

Non-alcoholic

Adon-adon coro Angsle Bajigur Bandrek Bir jawa Bir kocok Bir pletok Cendol Chocolate milk Cincau Dadiah Es asam jawa Es buah Es campur Es doger Es durian Es goyobod Es kelapa muda Es kopyor Es selendang mayang Es tebak Es tebu Es teler Hot chocolate Jahe telur Jamu Java coffee Kembang tahu Kopi luwak Kopi susu Kopi tarik Kopi tiam Kopi tubruk Lahang Laksamana mengamuk Legen Milo Moke Ronde Sarsi Badak Indo saparelle Sekoteng Soda gembira Susu kedelai Sweet tea Teh botol Teh krisan Teh liang Teh poci Teh jahe Teh tarik Teh talua Wedang jahe Wedang uwuh

Bumbu

Spices

Adas manis Andaliman Asam jawa Bawang bombai Bawang merah Bawang perei Bawang putih Bunga lawang Bunga pala Cabai rawit Cabai merah Cengkih Daun bawang Daun jeruk Daun kari Daun kemangi Daun pandan Daun salam Jahe Jeruk purut Jeruk nipis Jintan Kapulaga Kayu manis Kecombrang Kencur Kemiri Ketumbar Keluak Kunyit Lengkuas Lada hitam Lada putih Lokio Pala Peterseli Seledri Serai Temu kunci Temu lawak

Seasonings and condiments

Abon Acar Balado Bawang goreng Budu Coconut jam Cuka Dabu-dabu Hagelslag Kecap asin Kecap ikan Kecap inggris Kecap manis Kerisik Lalab Mayones Minyak samin Minyak wijen Minyak zaitun Moster Muisjes Nata de coco Peanut sauce Petis Petis ikan Rica-rica Sambal Sambal goreng teri Serundeng Saus tiram Saus tomat Tapai Tauco Tempoyak Terasi Tongcai Tuktuk Vlokken

Influences and
overseas dishes

• Achat
• Asam pedas
• Ayam penyet
• Babi pangang
• Bami
• Bamischijf
• Begedil
• Biryani
• Bobotie
• Bobotok
• Boeber
• Dendeng
• Kaassoufflé
• Kalu dodol
• Koe'sister
• Lumpia
• Martabak
• Mie goreng
• Mie rebus
• Nasi ambeng
• Nasi goreng
• Nasi kuning
• Nasischijf
• Pechal
• Pisang goreng
• Rawon
• Rendang
• Rojak
• Roti canai
• Satay
• Sayur lodeh
• Serundeng
• Sosatie
• Soto
• Telur pindang
• Tempeh
• Tomato bredie

List articles

• Indonesian beverages
• Indonesian condiments
• Indonesian desserts
• Indonesian dishes
• Indonesian noodles
• Indonesian snacks
• Indonesian soups

Related
topics

• List of Indonesian dishes
• Alcohol in Indonesia
• Jamu
• Bumbu (seasoning)
• Street food of Indonesia
  • Jajan pasar
• Sri Owen
• Nunuk Nuraini

•  Category: Indonesian cuisine