Here’s a tasty, spicy dressing for use on noodles, in rice bowls, or even for use as a coleslaw or salad dressing. It has an Indonesian influence and is a very versatile dressing. It takes its influence from Gado Gado Salad – which is one of my all-time favorite salads. This dressing does not have the sour element – from lime and tamarind – but uses lemon and ginger instead. Gado Gado also contains shrimp paste, and this one does not. This sauce, however, can be whipped up in about 5 minutes, making it perfect for adding to a quick lunchtime salad, or on marinated tofu with rice for supper.
It’s so rare nowadays that I will pick up a dressing from the store. Making your own is so quick and simple, as long as you keep some store cupboard ingredients handy. Most people have some kind of nut butter in their pantry, along with soy sauce and sugar. Add some garlic, lemon and heat – via either fresh chilies or a paste – and your sauce is ready to go.
I use Tamari in this recipe, but feel free to use regular soy sauce if you are not allergic to wheat.
- 2 Large Cloves Garlic, minced**
- Juice 1 Lemon, Plus 1 t zest
- 2 T Tamari, or Soy Sauce
- ½" Piece Fresh Ginger, minced**
- 1 T Peanut Butter (I like to use Chunky, but Smooth will also work)
- 2 T Coconut (or regular) Sugar
- 1 T Harissa Paste, or ½ Serrano Chile, Chopped fine
- Put all ingredients into a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Alternatively, put all ingredients into a jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine.
Nutritional breakdown is approximate and for general information only, and will vary depending on specific brands and measurements used.
This Food & Travel Blog is all about my love of fruits and veggies, and about using as many as I can during the course of the week - whether at home or abroad. In fact, you could say I'm mental for veggies!
Leave a Reply