Gado Gado Salad

My Mum is a super amazing person. Really.

For many *many* years, I was simply a picky meat eater then I finally made the (not very big) plunge and became an official vegetarian. Admittedly, I am vegetarian by choice, I don't always thoroughly read ingredients lists on things (although I try to avoid gelatine as much as possible).

Mum and Dad are happily meat eaters, and I am not one to try and change the ways of others (well, unless it is subtly, by example...). So what does a metatarian cook when a vegetarian is under her roof?

Mum has been doing very well at coming up with some nice alternatives: things where I can just pile red kidney beans on the side (rosemary roasted veggies: onion, beetroot, potato, sweet potato, chunks of pumpkin - YUM) or something like that. Naturally the ubiquitous stirfry with cubed tofu has made an appearance - always a classic.

But last night, she made gado gado salad, which is apparently Indonesian. We had it with hard boiled eggs, but it would be easy to veganise (or meatatise - Mum and Dad has spicy chicken on the side).

GADO GADO SALAD:
For the dressing:
1/3 cup of crunchy peanut butter or tahini
2 Tbs light soy sauce
1 Tbs finely chopped spring onion / shallots
1/2 - 1 tsp freshly grated ginger, depending on your personal gingeriness
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 red chilli, sliced
2 tsp caster sugar
1 Tbs white vinegar
1 Tbs water if the mixture is too thick.
Simply mix these ingredients, and leave for about an hour.

Then pour it over any combinations of the following:
Baby romaine leaves (or adult leaves but chopped up)
4 sliced hard boiled eggs
Stemaed asparagus
Steamed green beans
Slices of red or green peppers
Ribbons of carrot
Slices of cucumber
Bean sprouts or pea shoots
Sliced cold cooked potatoes
Fresh coriander, chopped (cilantro)

Yeah baby. Dry fry some crushed peanuts and serve them over the top for a nice extra crunch.

This was the optimal summer salad, because you essentially use the sauce to tie together whatever cold things are in the fridge. I like those meals, they're my favourites!