berkuah

Berkuah is an adjective used in Indonesian and Malay to describe food that is served with broth, soup, or a liquid sauce. It is formed from the prefix ber- attached to kuah, meaning broth or gravy. The term is used to distinguish dishes that retain a noticeable liquid component from dry or fried variants.

In practice, berkuah describes many noodle and soup dishes, such as mie berkuah (noodles in hot broth), bakso berkuah (meatballs in soup), and soto berkuah (soto as a soup with broth). The modifier can also highlight the presence of a sauce or gravy that accompanies a dish, though it most often indicates a liquid-rich preparation within a traditional soup or stew.

Usage note: The term is common in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei and appears in menus, cookbooks, and food journalism. It helps diners choose between dry or saucy versions of a dish, and it reflects cooking styles where broth plays a central role in flavor and texture.

See also: kuah; mie berkuah; bakso; soto.