Gado-gado is a popular Indonesian dish that consists of a salad with a dressing and a variety of side ingredients. In different parts of Indonesia, this food is known by different names. It usually comes with a peanut sauce dressing, as well as green vegetables and eggs.
In gado-gado, many different types of green vegetables are used. Cabbage, sprouts, cucumber, and string beans are just a few examples. Other vegetables, such as tomato, may not be used in traditional recipes, but they can be used in some variations. Boiled eggs, peeled and cut in half, are frequently served on the side. x000D_
Traditionally, the peanut sauce dressing for gado-gado is poured over the salad. Peanuts, as well as certain types of sugar and hot chilies, are some of the most basic ingredients. Lime juice is occasionally added to the mixture. It’s also possible to use a dry shrimp paste. The sauce is frequently enhanced with garlic and coconut milk. x000D_
A particular type of cracker is also included in the dish. Emping is the type of cracker that goes with gado-gado in the region where it was invented. These dishes can also be served with rice or rice cakes (also known as lontong). x000D_
Other types of ingredients can also be used to enhance the dish. To add flavor and texture contrast, fried shallots are sometimes added. Some chefs use vegetarian foods like tofu or tempeh, pressed soy products, to boost the protein content of the dish without adding meat. Fish or other meats may be used in other recipes for this dish. x000D_
The various ways in which cooks make the peanut sauce is one of the dish’s distinguishing features. Cooks will often use a simple mortar and pestle to grind the peanuts and spices in traditional gado-gado varieties. Cooks may substitute peanut butter or processed peanut paste for the shrimp paste and other ingredients in other varieties. As the popularity of gado-gado grows, regional food experts note that food manufacturers have begun to sell premade blocks of peanut sauce elements, allowing cooks to make this dish more quickly rather than from scratch. Some pre-made versions of this dish may be found in modern cafeterias catering to the busy citizens of these areas who don’t have time to prepare food from scratch.