18/06/2026
Today's Feature!
Beef Kulma: The Royal Tausug Curry of the Sulu Archipelago
Beef Kulma is a hearty, aromatic curry crafted by slowly simmering succulent beef chunks in a creamy sauce made from coconut milk, peanut butter, tomato paste, and a carefully balanced blend of spices. Rich, nutty, and warmly spiced, it is a dish that carries the full weight of Tausug history in every spoonful.
Kulma is believed to have been originally brought by 13th century Arab spice traders to the islands of Sulu as the traditional curry dish Korma, originating in northern India and Pakistan, before it eventually evolved into the Tausug’s Beef Kulma. The roots of Tausug food can be traced to the neighboring state of Sabah, Malaysia, and boast a history that extends well before the arrival of the first Spaniards. The Tausug people did not simply adopt what the traders brought; they transformed it, weaving in coconut milk, peanuts, and local aromatics until Kulma became something unmistakably and beautifully their own.
Once an exclusive dish for royalty, Kulma still features prominently at Muslim weddings and festivals like Eid’l Adha. Dishes like Beef Kulma are normally reserved for weddings, burials, and other special occasions, prepared communally, eaten together, and always served as an act of love and hospitality. Best enjoyed over steaming white rice at a dulang feast, surrounded by family and the warm, fragrant cloud of spices that have traveled centuries to reach this table.
Excerpt adapted from "Beef Kulma: The Royal Tausug Curry of the Sulu Archipelago" by IslandPacific Seafood Market (2020).
Beef Kulmam is available in Lokal Deli Karaenan sa Dalan Booth No. 42
