Ketoprak
A vibrant and flavorful Indonesian tofu salad, a popular Jakarta street food featuring fried tofu, rice cakes, vermicelli, and crisp bean sprouts, all generously coated in a rich, sweet and savory peanut sauce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 200 g Firm or extra-firm tofu
- 150 g Rice vermicelli noodles
- 200 g Lontong or pre-cooked rice cakes
- 150 g Fresh bean sprouts
- 200 ml Peanut sauce
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 serving Kerupuk (Indonesian crackers)
- 2 tbsp Fried shallots
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the fried tofu. Heat vegetable oil in a non-stick skillet or wok over medium-high heat (around 180°C / 350°F). Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the cubed tofu. Fry for about 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Remove the fried tofu with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Cook the noodles and blanch the sprouts. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the dried rice vermicelli and cook according to package directions, usually 2-3 minutes until tender. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. In the same boiling water (or fresh boiling water), quickly blanch the rinsed bean sprouts for about 30 seconds until they are slightly tender but still crisp. Drain well.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Prepare the rice cakes. If using store-bought lontong, slice it into 1.5cm thick pieces. If using pre-cooked rice, you can cut it into bite-sized cubes.
⏱️ 3 minutes - 4
Assemble the Ketoprak. In each serving bowl, arrange a portion of the sliced rice cake, followed by the cooked rice vermicelli, fried tofu cubes, and blanched bean sprouts. Drizzle generously with the room-temperature peanut sauce. Garnish with kerupuk (if using) and fried shallots (if using). Serve immediately.
⏱️ 5 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For an authentic Jakarta flavor, ensure your peanut sauce is a good balance of sweet (from kecap manis/sweet soy sauce), savory, and slightly spicy.
- ✓The key to good ketoprak is the contrast in textures: crispy tofu, chewy rice cake, tender noodles, and crunchy sprouts.
- ✓You can adjust the consistency of the peanut sauce by adding a little warm water if it's too thick.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a hard-boiled or fried egg, sliced, to each serving.
- Increase the amount of tofu for a more protein-rich meal.