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The Recipe · No.730 · Gado-Gado

Gado-Gado, and where to source it

Gado-Gado — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Gado-Gado Indonesian 5best2buy.com

The dish lives on the sauce, and a real peanut sauce starts from actual roasted peanuts ground with chili, garlic, and tamarind, loosened with a little water to a thick, pourable coat. The jarred peanut butter shortcut goes flat and sweet; grinding your own gives it the roasted, savory edge that makes gado-gado.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep25 min
Cook15 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineIndonesian
Cost$
VegetarianGluten-freeDairy-free
Contains  eggs · peanuts · soy
Make it vegan: a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
Peanuts
Roasted and ground into the sauce; the base of the whole dish. Fresh peanuts fry up sweeter.
1.5 cups
Source it →
Tempeh and tofu
Both fried golden for protein and chew. Fresh craft tempeh has a nuttier bite.
1 block each
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Mixed vegetables
Long beans, cabbage, bean sprouts, and potato, blanched crisp-tender. Fresh, bought local.
5 cups
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Tamarind
The sour note that balances the peanut sauce. A block of pulp beats bottled concentrate.
1 tbsp
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Eggs
Hard-boiled and halved over the top. Deep-gold pasture yolks look and taste best.
4
Source it →
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerNo-cook
The Method
  1. Make the sauceGrind roasted peanuts with chili, garlic, tamarind, and a little sugar, then loosen with water to a thick coat.
  2. Fry the proteinFry the tofu and tempeh until golden and crisp, then cut into pieces.
  3. Blanch the vegetablesBlanch the sturdier vegetables crisp-tender and keep the tender ones raw.
  4. Plate and pourArrange everything with the egg and fried protein, pour the peanut sauce over, and top with fried shallots and crackers.
The Toolkit

Mortar · Skillet · Steamer

Straight Answers
Can you make Gado-Gado in an air fryer? — Not needed

It’s a salad — nothing to air-fry once it’s tossed. You can crisp a topping in one, though: croutons, bacon, or chickpeas in a single layer while you build the rest.

Can you freeze Gado-Gado? — Best fresh

Not really — the vegetables and dressing turn to mush once thawed. Salads are a make-fresh thing.

Can you make Gado-Gado ahead of time? — Best fresh

Dress it just before serving — the greens wilt and brown once coated. Wash, cut, and chill the components ahead, then toss at the last minute.

Is Gado-Gado gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Gado-Gado vegan? — Vegetarian, not vegan

It’s vegetarian but not vegan as written — it has egg. Make it vegan: a flax or aquafaba egg for the egg.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.730

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