How to Make Gado-Gado

Gado-Gado

Here’s an illustration of a beautifully plated Gado-Gado dish! Let me know if it captures what you were imagining or if you'd like any adjustments. 😊

Gado-Gado is a traditional Indonesian salad served with a rich and flavorful peanut sauce dressing. It’s a delicious and healthy dish that combines fresh vegetables, protein, and an irresistible sauce. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

For the Peanut Sauce:

1 cup roasted peanuts (or peanut butter)
2 cloves garlic
2-3 red chilies (adjust for spice level)
1-2 tablespoons palm sugar (or brown sugar)
2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
1 cup coconut milk (optional, for creaminess)
½ cup water (adjust for desired consistency)
Salt to taste
Lime juice (optional, for added tang)

For the Salad:

Vegetables (blanched or steamed):
2 cups bean sprouts
1 cup green beans, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 cups cabbage, chopped
1 cup carrots, sliced
1 cup potatoes, boiled and cubed

Protein:

2-3 hard-boiled eggs, halved
1 cup fried tofu or tempeh, cubed
Additional Toppings:
Fried shallots
Lontong (compressed rice cakes) or plain rice
Prawn crackers (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Peanut Sauce

1. Grind the peanuts: Blend roasted peanuts (or peanut butter) with garlic and chilies until smooth.

2. Cook the sauce: In a pan, combine the blended mixture with palm sugar, sweet soy sauce, tamarind paste, coconut milk, and water. Simmer over low heat while stirring until the sauce thickens.

3. Adjust seasoning: Add salt and lime juice to taste. Set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Vegetables

1. Blanch or steam the vegetables (bean sprouts, green beans, cabbage, and carrots) until tender but still crisp.

2. Boil the potatoes until soft and cube them.

3. Drain and set all vegetables aside.

Step 3: Prepare the Protein

1. Fry or bake tofu or tempeh until golden and crispy.

2. Boil and peel the eggs.

Step 4: Assemble the Gado-Gado

1. Arrange the vegetables, potatoes, tofu, and eggs on a large plate or bowl.

2. Drizzle generously with peanut sauce.

3. Sprinkle fried shallots on top.

4. Serve with lontong or rice cakes and prawn crackers on the side.

Tips

For added flavor, you can add a dash of sambal (chili paste) to the peanut sauce or serve it on the side.
Customize the vegetables and protein according to your preference or what’s available.

Enjoy your homemade Gado-Gado! Let me know if you try it or need more tips. 😊

How to Make Gado-Gado