Tofu Gado Gado

My husband made this Indonesian Tofu Gado Gado for me in the early stages of our relationship. It’s a great example of our mutual love for food — fresh flavors, filling, light, and exotic without being too fiery. A classic you’ll come back to again and again.

I’ve tweaked some ingredients to maximize the use of dried pantry goods. For the salad — feel free to substitute with bean sprouts, julienned carrots, purple cabbage, radishes, or top with crispy shallots. I’ll say that the warm potatoes with crispy napa cabbage are the highlights for me here.

Halve or double the portions depending on the party size you’re serving.

Tofu Gado Gado

Serves 4 people as a main course, 6 as a side dish

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil

  • 1 pack of fried tofu*

  • 500 grams potatoes, cubed into 1-inch pieces

  • 4 eggs (omit for vegan)

  • 200 grams green beans, ends trimmed and halved lengthways

  • 200 grams Napa cabbage, washed and finely shredded

  • 1 Persian cucumber or 1/2 cucumber, sliced into thin rounds

  • a handful of coriander leaves, picked and roughly chopped

  • 4 tbsp roasted peanuts, chopped

Spicy Peanut Dressing

  • 50g peanut butter

  • 2 1/2 tbsp soy sauce 

  • 1/2 tbsp honey

  • 1 tbsp fish sauce* (omit for vegan/vegetarian)

  • 1 tbsp cane sugar

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 1-inch piece of ginger

  • 2 fresh or dried red chilies (optional)

  • Juice of 1 lime

  • 75 ml coconut milk

Instructions

  1. Using a large pot, bring 1.5 liters of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes, and eggs and cook for 9 minutes. While the ingredients are cooking, prepare an ice bath. When the timer goes off, transfer the eggs into the ice bath and chill. Continue cooking the potatoes until fork tender.

  2. Using a blender or food processor — blend all of the peanut dressing ingredients. Adjust the salt and spices to taste. Add more coconut milk or water for desired consistency. Set aside.

  3. When the potatoes from step 1 are almost tender, add the green beans, fried tofu, and boil for 1-2 minutes until tender and bright green. Drain the vegetables, tofu and run under cold water until chilled. Slice the fried tofu into bite-sized pieces.

  4. Peel and cut the chilled eggs in half. Assemble the salad by layering potatoes, green beans, tofu, sliced cucumber, and eggs. Serve immediately with peanut sauce, chopped peanuts, and cilantro.


Cooking Tips:

  1. Substitute fried tofu with firm tofu (cubed and fried) or with tempeh.

Japanese Onion Salad Dressing (Wafu)

Wafu (和風) is a popular Japanese salad dressing which is basically an onion vinaigrette. It takes 5 ingredients to make and pairs perfectly with greens, lettuce, cucumber for an appetizer or a refreshing side.

This dressing brings me back to my high school days when I worked at Mos Burger — a Japanese chain restaurant that specializes in rice burgers. Boy, I loved everything on the menu — fish fillets, pomelo ice teas, organic rice patties (some of my coworkers used them to make fried rice). It was a memorable and delicious time.

Among their menu, Wafu salad was a bestseller. It had completely slipped my mind until I came across it on Adam Liaw’s social media. Making it brings me back to the school days — walking home after an evening shift, the jasmine-scented gardens of Chang Kai Shek memorial hall, koi fish ponds, and the many meals I shared with my friends. I will be eating lots of Wafu dressing on salads this summer.

Japanese Onion Salad Dressing (Wafu/和風醬)

Ingredients

  1. 1/2 onion, roughly chopped (around 1 cup)

  2. 1 tbsp soy sauce

  3. 2 tbsp rice vinegar (sub-seasoned rice vinegar and omit the sugar)

  4. 1 tbsp cane sugar

  5. 1/2 cup grapeseed oil (sub olive oil)

  6. 1/2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  • Add all of the ingredients aside from the oil into a blender or food processor. Pulse and blend into a thick dressing. Don’t overblend.

  • Top with oil of choice and sesame seeds. Seal the jar, and give it a good shake until the ingredients emulsify. Serve over salad or soba/rice noodles. Dressing keeps for 3-4 days in the fridge

Cooking Notes:

• Traditionally, the onions are grated with a Microplane grater to preserve texture. I find the blender method easier with limited time on my hands.

• If making beforehand, give the dressing jar a good shake before serving.