Javanese
Bami: Javanese-Surinamese fried noodles
Surinamese bami is a Javanese-Surinamese dish of fried noodles with chicken, cabbage and kecap manis, sweeter and darker than Indonesian bami goreng. A plate in a warung typically costs SRD 60 to SRD 140.
Surinamese bami came with the Javanese indentured labourers and has picked up more kecap manis and less chilli than the Indonesian version. It is darker, sweeter and softer.
Chicken is standard, with cabbage, carrot and leek. A fried egg often lands on top and prawn crackers beside it. In a Chinese eating house the same idea is called tjauw min and is different again: less sweet, more soy.
Bami is also party food: at birthdays there is usually a large dish of it next to the pom.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Surinamese and Indonesian bami?
Surinamese bami is sweeter and darker because more kecap manis goes in, and considerably milder, the sambal is served separately. Indonesian bami goreng carries more chilli and shrimp paste in the dish itself. A plate of Surinamese bami costs SRD 60 to SRD 140 in a warung.
What is tjauw min?
Tjauw min is the Chinese-Surinamese take on fried noodles: less sweet than the Javanese-Surinamese bami and built more on soy sauce. You find it in the Chinese eating houses of Paramaribo.