Gado Gado: Indonesian Balinese Salad

Gado Gado is an iconic Indonesian dish, especially popular in Bali, offering an explosion of flavors and textures. "Gado Gado" literally means "a mixture of mixtures" in Indonesian, and that's exactly what it delivers: a combination of fresh vegetables, proteins, and a spicy peanut sauce. This dish is highly popular in Bali and throughout Indonesia, perfectly representing the richness of Indonesian cuisine, where influences from different regions and culinary traditions meet.

Origin and Tradition
Gado Gado is a traditional dish from the Indonesian archipelago, mainly appreciated for its nutritional balance. It consists of both cooked and raw vegetables, combined with proteins like hard-boiled eggs, tempeh (fermented soy), and grilled or fried shrimp. This dish reflects the harmony of typical Indonesian ingredients, where local products are highlighted.

Historically, the dish evolved as street food, often consumed by workers or busy people for its practicality and filling nature. Today, Gado Gado is a must-try dish in traditional Indonesian restaurants.

Typical Ingredients
Gado Gado consists of a mixture of fresh and cooked vegetables, along with a peanut sauce that ties the flavors together. Key ingredients in this dish include vegetables such as green beans, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, and napa cabbage. It is accompanied by proteins such as hard-boiled eggs, tempeh, and sometimes fried tofu. A key feature of Gado Gado is the spicy, sweet, and salty peanut sauce, offering a perfectly balanced flavor profile.

Gado Gado Bali Salad Recipe:
Ingredients:

Spicy Peanut Sauce:

• 75g creamy peanut butter
• 50ml rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce (Nuoc-mâm)
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Shrimp Toast:

• 125g cooked shrimp, finely chopped
• 3 egg whites, separated
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed pepper
• 1 tablespoon coriander leaves
• 1 finely chopped green onion
• 6 very thin slices of white bread, crusts removed
• 2 hard-boiled egg yolks with ginger and soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon water
• 125g Japanese Panko breadcrumbs (or homemade)

Gado Gado Salad:

• 100g mixed lettuce
• 1 julienned carrot
• 100g green beans (or long beans), cut and cooked
• 125g cherry or pear tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cucumber, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 100g napa cabbage, shredded
• 50g winter radish sprouts or alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts, or lentil sprouts
• 6 hard-boiled egg yolks with ginger and soy sauce
• 3 pinches of ground black pepper

Preparation:

1. Prepare the Peanut Sauce:
   In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, rice vinegar, brown sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, crushed pepper, and garlic powder.
   Mix well until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning as per your taste by adding more sugar for sweetness or more vinegar for a tangier flavor.

2. Prepare the Shrimp Toast:
   In a bowl, mix the chopped shrimp with egg whites, garlic powder, ground ginger, crushed pepper, coriander, and green onion.
   Mix well until fully incorporated.
   Spread the shrimp mixture onto the slices of white bread. Roll them in Panko breadcrumbs.
   Fry the toasts in a pan with a little oil until golden and crispy. Set aside.

3. Prepare the Salad:
   Blanch the green beans in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes, then plunge them into ice water to stop the cooking and preserve their bright green color.
   Grate the carrot and napa cabbage, slice the cucumber, bell pepper, and tomatoes, then arrange them on a large serving platter.
   Add the radish sprouts, broccoli sprouts, or lentil sprouts for extra crunch and freshness.

4. Assemble the Salad:
   On a large platter, arrange the prepared vegetables, alternating them.
   Add the hard-boiled egg yolks cut into quarters, tempeh, and shrimp toasts.
   Generously drizzle with the spicy peanut sauce.

5. Serve:
   Serve the salad immediately, accompanied by rice or another traditional Indonesian dish for a complete meal.

Tips and Variations:

• For a vegetarian version, you can replace the shrimp with grilled tofu or extra tempeh.
• This salad can be prepared in advance, but the peanut sauce is best added just before serving to avoid softening the vegetables.
• For a spicier kick, feel free to add more chili to the peanut sauce or top the salad with fresh chili.

Cultural Significance:
Gado Gado is a dish that embodies the culinary diversity of Indonesia. Its preparation varies from region to region, and each family has its own version. However, the principle remains the same: a mixture of fresh and cooked vegetables, proteins, and a rich and flavorful peanut sauce. It is a complete, nourishing dish and a symbol of Indonesian hospitality, often served during festivals and family celebrations.