MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD WITH PEANUT SAUCE (GADO-GADO)

Steps:

• (a variety of the following): cabbage, in 1-inch squares; bean sprouts; carrots, sliced or julienned; green beans, in 2-inch pieces; potatoes or sweet potatoes in large dice; sliced cucumbers; watercress sprigs; tomato wedges.
• This is from a new cookbook I just got.
• Haven't tried this recipe yet, but it looks dead on.
• This is a rather free-form salad of lightly cooked vegetables; the exact contents depend on what is available.
• What makes it gado-gado is the dressing, a creamy peanut sauce.
• Remove tofu from package and drain.
• Place on a plate lined with cloth or paper towels, top with another layer of towel and an inverted plate, and place a weight of a pound or more on top.
• Let stand for 30 minutes, unwrap, and discard liquid.
• Cut tofu into bite-sized squares or triangles and sprinkle with kecap manis.
• Fry in 350F oil until golden brown and puffy; transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Reserve oil to cook peanuts.
• One at a time, blanch vegetables in lightly salted water, rinsing them in cold water to stop cooking as soon as they reach the desired degree of doneness.
• Cabbage and bean sprouts require only a few seconds; carrots, green beans, and potatoes may take several minutes depending on size and tenderness.
• Do not blanch cucumbers, watercress, and tomatoes.
• use them raw.
• Place Gado-Gado Sauce in a small bowl in the center of a large platter.
• Arrange vegetables on platter around sauce.
• Garnish with wedges or slices of hard-cooked egg and fried onion flakes.
• To serve, spoon some sauce onto each plate and dip vegetables into sauce.
• Serves 4 to 6 with other dishes.
• --------------GADO-GADOSAUCE----------------.
• To prepare sauce in a mortar: Pound garlic, shallot, galangal, shrimp paste, and chile to a paste.
• To prepare sauce in a blender: Chop together in a 1-cup jar.
• In a wok or deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until a peanut sizzles on contact.
• Fry peanuts until lightly browned; transfer to paper towels to drain.
• When peanuts have cooled, grind in a mortar or food processor to a coarse, grainy paste, adding a little oil if necessary to facilitate blending.
• (May be made up to a week ahead and stored covered in refrigerator.) Remove all but 2 tablespoons oil from pan and reserve for another use.
• Return pan to medium-low heat and add pounded mixture.
• Cook until quite fragrant, but do not burn.
• Add peanuts, sugar, and coconut milk and bring to a boil, stirring.
• Simmer until thick and season to taste with salt and lime juice.
• Allow to coot to room temperature before serving.