Gado-gado, Authentic Traditional Salad of Indonesia

1. Prepare the Peanut Sauce:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the ground roasted peanuts, minced garlic, minced shallots, chopped chili peppers, tamarind paste or juice, and palm sugar.
• Blend the ingredients until you get a thick paste. If it's too thick, you can add a little water to thin it out.
• Transfer the peanut paste to a saucepan and heat it over low to medium heat.
• Stir in the coconut milk gradually, and continue to cook the sauce, stirring frequently until it thickens. Add more water if needed to reach your desired consistency.
• Season the sauce with salt to taste. Keep it warm on low heat while you prepare the salad.

2. Prepare the Vegetables and Proteins:

• Blanch or steam the mixed vegetables until they are tender but still crisp. Drain and set aside.
• Slice and fry the tofu and tempeh until they are golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.

3.Assemble the Gado-Gado:

• Arrange the blanched vegetables, tofu, tempeh, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber, tomato, and water spinach on a serving platter.
• Optionally, you can arrange the compressed rice cakes (lontong) or steamed white rice on the platter as well.

4. Serve:

• Drizzle the warm peanut sauce generously over the arranged ingredients.
• You can also serve extra peanut sauce on the side for those who want more.
• Garnish with shrimp crackers (krupuk) for added texture and crunch.

5. Enjoy:

• Gado-Gado is best enjoyed immediately while still warm. Mix all the ingredients together to combine the flavors and textures before eating.

Gado-Gado is a versatile dish, so don't hesitate to experiment with different vegetables and protein sources to suit your taste.

It's a wholesome and flavorful Indonesian dish that's perfect for a hearty meal or a satisfying salad.***

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