Gado Gado is a popular Indonesian salad known for its mix of fresh and cooked vegetables, all brought together with a rich peanut sauce. A step-by-step guide to making Gado Gado:
Ingredients:
For the Salad:
- 1 cup of cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup of bean sprouts
- 1 cup of long beans (green beans), cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup of spinach or watercress
- 2-3 boiled potatoes, cut into chunks
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- Tofu and/or tempeh, fried until crispy (optional)
- Cucumber, sliced (optional)
- Lontong (compressed rice cake) or steamed jasmine rice
For the Peanut Sauce:
- 1 cup of roasted peanuts, ground
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2-3 red chilies, minced (adjust to your spice level)
- 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste
- 2 tablespoons of palm sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1/2 cup of coconut milk
- Salt to taste
- Water for adjusting the consistency
Instructions:
Making the Peanut Sauce:
1. Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
2. Add minced red chilies and continue to sauté for a couple of minutes.
3. Stir in the ground peanuts and mix well.
4. Add tamarind paste, palm sugar (or brown sugar), and coconut milk. Stir and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
5. Add water to adjust the sauce's consistency to your preference. It should be smooth and pourable. Add salt to taste and adjust the sweetness or sourness as needed.
Assembling Gado Gado:
1. Arrange the cabbage, bean sprouts, long beans, spinach or watercress, boiled potatoes, tofu/tempeh (if using), cucumber, hard-boiled eggs, and lontong or steamed jasmine rice on a large serving platter.
2. Drizzle the peanut sauce generously over the vegetables, tofu, and eggs.
3. Serve Gado Gado immediately, allowing each person to mix the salad and sauce according to their preference.
4. You can garnish the dish with crispy shallots or prawn crackers for added texture and flavor.
Gado Gado is a versatile salad, and you can customize it to include your favorite vegetables and protein sources. The key to this dish is the flavorful peanut sauce that brings everything together. Enjoy your homemade Gado Gado!