October 30, 2024
Gado-Gado is a traditional Indonesian dish made with lightly cooked or fresh vegetables, tofu, boiled egg, and a rich, creamy peanut sauce. It's healthy, filling, and easy to make on a tight budget, with ingredients that are flexible and widely available.
| Ingredient | Quantity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Main Ingredients: | ||
| Cabbage | 1/4 head (shredded) | $0.40 |
| Bean sprouts | 1 cup | $0.50 |
| Carrot | 1 large (sliced) | $0.20 |
| Potatoes | 2 medium (boiled) | $0.60 |
| Tofu | 200g (fried or boiled) | $1.00 |
| Boiled eggs | 3 (halved) | $0.75 |
| Long beans or green beans | 100g | $0.50 |
| Cucumber (optional) | 1 small (sliced) | $0.30 |
| Fried shallots (optional) | 2 tbsp | $0.25 |
| For Peanut Sauce: | ||
| Peanut butter or ground peanuts | 5 tbsp | $1.00 |
| Garlic | 2 cloves | $0.10 |
| Chili (optional) | 1 | $0.05 |
| Palm sugar or brown sugar | 1 tbsp | $0.05 |
| Tamarind paste or lime juice | 1 tsp | $0.10 |
| Soy sauce | 1 tbsp | $0.05 |
| Water | 1/3 cup (for thinning) | Free |
Prepare the Vegetables: Boil or steam cabbage, carrots, green beans, and bean sprouts until slightly tender (2–4 minutes). Drain and let cool. Boil potatoes until soft, then slice. Slice cucumber (if using) and arrange fresh.
Cook the Tofu and Eggs: Fry or boil tofu until golden, then cube it. Boil eggs, peel, and cut in half.
Make the Peanut Sauce: Sauté minced garlic and chili in a pan. Add peanut butter, sugar, soy sauce, and tamarind paste or lime juice. Gradually stir in water and simmer until smooth and thick. Adjust salt or sweetness to taste.
Assemble the Gado-Gado: Arrange all vegetables, potatoes, tofu, and egg on a plate. Pour peanut sauce over the top. Sprinkle with fried shallots if available.
📌 Final Notes:
