Gado Gado 
(Indonesian vegetable salad with peanut sauce)

Plate of gado gado salad
Image by Wikimedia: Ocdp

Gado gado is a popular salad in Indonesia with a number of regional variations. At its base, gado gado is a mixed salad of cooked and raw vegetables, topped or tossed with a peanut sauce.

Gado gado is an excellent addition to a buffet or rijsttafel.

Gado Gado

Course: SaladsCuisine: Indonesia, Singapore
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Gado gado is a popular salad in Indonesia with a number of regional variations.

Ingredients

  • Mung beans — 1 cup

  • Carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds — 2

  • Green beans, cut into 2-inch lengths — 1 cup

  • Potatoes, peeled and cubed — 2

  • Romaine lettuce, outer leaves kept whole, remainder shredded — 2 cups

  • Cucumbers, peeled, seeds removed, cut into half moons — 1

  • Tomatoes, cut into wedges — 2 or 3

  • Hard-boiled eggs, cut into wedges — 2 or 3

  • Sambal kacang (peanut sauce) — 1 recipe

  • Krupuk (shrimp crackers) (optional) — 10 to 12

Directions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Have another large pot of cold water close by. Add the sprouts and boil them for 10 to 15 seconds. Remove the sprouts from the water with a slotted spoon and plunge them into the cold water. Drain and set aside.
  • Repeat this process, one ingredient at a time, with the carrots, green beans and potatoes, letting each ingredient boil long enough to cook through but still retain a pleasant bite.
  • Lay the outer whole leaves of the Romaine lettuce on a large platter to form a base for the salad. Spread the shredded lettuce over the base.
  • Layer the blanched, drained vegetables over the shredded lettuce. Garnish the platter with the cucumbers wedges, tomatoes, egg wedges and krupuk crackers.
  • Pour the sambal kacang over the vegetables and serve.

Gado Gado Notes and Variations

  • Serving variations: The vegetables can be all mixed together or even served in separate little piles. The sauce can likewise be poured over all, mixed in or served in a bowl on the side for individual diners to dip into as they like. Gado gado is usually served cold or at room temperature, but it is sometimes heated a little in an oven before serving.
  • Vegetables for gado gado: The vegetables listed above are those most commonly used for gado gado, but you can use whatever you like. Other common additions: cauliflower; snow peas, spinach or other greens, cubed and fried tofu or tempeh. Firmer vegetables are usually blanched or steamed, but they can also be served raw.
  • Garnishes: Garnish with toasted sesame seeds or fried onions if you like.
  • Pasembor (Malaysia): A very similar salad served in Malaysia. It usually includes shredded turnip and either fish or shrimp fritters.

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