FOOD FRIDAY: GADO-GADO

“The wish for healing has always been half of health." - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
 
Gado-Gado is an Indonesian vegetable dish, which means “mixtures”. The exact composition of the vegetable mixture varies, but usually comprises seasonal vegetable that are locally available. Typically, authentic gado-gado does not have carrot and tomatoes. Depending on your greengrocer’s stocks and how well Asian vegetable are represented you may use the following (vegetarians may omit the objectionable ingredients):
 
Gado-Gado (Jakarta Style)
Ingredients
 
Blanched: Shredded, chopped, or sliced green vegetables such as cabbage, kang-kung, young boiled jack fruit, string beans, bitter melon, and corn

Uncooked: Sliced cucumber, bean sprouts and lettuce

Fried: Tofu and/or tempeh

Sliced boiled potatoes

Boiled eggs, sliced
 
Peanut sauce dressing is the characteristic feature of the dish, and this is poured on top of the vegetable salad before serving. The composition of this peanut sauce varies also, but it is warmed before mixing and serving.

Ground fried peanuts (kidney beans may be substituted for a richer taste)

Coconut sugar/palm sugar (can substitute brown sugar)

Chillies (according to taste)

Lime juice

Terasi (dried shrimp paste)

Tamarind water to dilute
 
Method

Assemble the cold vegetables and eggs in a pleasing arrangement on lettuce leaves. Pour on the warm peanut sauce and serve immediately. This is a complete meal in itself. Gado-gado is always served with krupuk (kind of crackers, usually tapioca crackers), or also with emping (Indonesian style fried crackers, which are made from melinjo). In Indonesia, Gado-gado is usually served with rice or lontong (rice cake wrapped in banana leaf).
 
This post is part of the Food Friday meme,
and also part of the Food Trip Friday meme.