Gado Gado (Indonesian Salad with Peanut Dressing)

Step 1

Trim the stems from 2 fresh Thai or small bird’s eye chilies. Roughly cut the chilies in half. Place the chilies and 3 peeled garlic cloves in the food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until garlic cloves and peppers are coarsely chopped and combined, about 8 (1-second) pulses.

Step 2

Add 8 ounces roasted unsalted peanuts and pulse until ground, about 25 (1-second) pulses. Add 2 tablespoons kecap manis, 1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Pulse until combined, about 15 (1-second) pulses.

Step 3

Measure out 3/4 cup water. Add about half to the food processor and pulse until combined, about 15 (1-second) pulses. While pulsing, pour in the remaining water and continue pulsing until combined and pourable but not too thin. Pulse in more water 1 tablespoon at a time to thin out if too thick. You should have about 2 cups.

Step 4

Place 4 large eggs in a large saucepan and add enough cold water to fill the saucepan about three-quarters full. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Cover and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, make an ice water bath by filling a medium bowl halfway full with ice and cold water. Core and slice 1/4 medium green cabbage into 1/2-inch wide shreds (about 5 cups). Trim the stem ends from 4 ounces green beans. Cut 1 medium chayote into 1/2-inch chunks (no need to peel). Line a baking sheet with paper towels.

Step 6

When the eggs are ready, use a slotted spoon to transfer the eggs to the ice water bath.

Step 7

Return the water in the saucepan to a boil. Blanch the vegetables one at a time in the boiling water in the following order, transferring each one with a slotted spoon to the baking sheet when cooked and returning the water to a boil in between each:Cook the cabbage until tender, about 2 minutes.Cook the green beans until crisp tender and bright green, 1 to 2 minutes.Cook 8 ounces of bean sprouts until tender, about 1 minutes.Cook the chayote until fork tender, 4 to 5 minutes.Cook 1 pound spinach until tender and wilted and tender, about 2 minutes.

Step 8

Cut 8 ounces tempeh into 1-inch-long triangles that are about 1/4-inch thick. Cut 8 ounces firm tofu into 1-inch cubes.

Step 9

Heat 1 tablespoon of the neutral oil in a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the tempeh and cook until golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

Step 10

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of neutral oil to the pan. Add the tofu and cook until golden brown and crisp on at least 2 sides, 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer to the plate with the tempeh.

Step 11

Cut 2 medium roma tomatoes into 8 wedges each. Cut 3 Persian cucumbers crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds. Cut 1 medium lime into wedges. Remove the eggs from the ice water bath, peel, and halve lengthwise.

Step 12

Arrange all the vegetables, eggs, tempeh, and tofu on a platter or wide shallow bowl. Drizzle with about 1/4 cup of the sauce. Garnish with fried shallots. Serve with the lime wedges, fried shrimp chips, and the remaining sauce.