Gado-Gado
Vegetable Peanut Salad
SaladIndonesia's beloved vegetable salad — blanched cabbage, bean sprouts, green beans, and spinach layered with fried tofu, tempeh, sliced boiled egg, and lontong (compressed rice cake), then drenched in a creamy, slightly spicy peanut sauce. The sauce is the star: ground roasted peanuts, palm sugar, chili, garlic, tamarind, and lime juice blended into a rich, sweet-savory dressing that ties everything together.
Spice Level
Mild
Difficulty
Easy
Prep Time
20 minutes
Price Range
Budget Friendly
Ingredients
Where to Try
Widely available at warungs and street carts across Bali. For consistently excellent versions, try the food courts in Denpasar's Pasar Badung or the local warungs in Sanur. Many restaurants in Ubud and Seminyak offer elevated takes on this classic.
Cultural Context
Gado-gado is a Javanese dish that has become a staple across all of Indonesia, including Bali. The name comes from the word 'gado' meaning 'to eat without rice,' though it is often served with lontong rice cake anyway. It is one of the most vegetarian-friendly dishes in Balinese cuisine and is frequently enjoyed during fasting days or as a lighter alternative to rice-heavy meals.
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