Rojak (Singapore Fruit and Vegetable Salad)
Local name: 罗惹
In short: Pineapple, cucumber, jicama and fried dough fritters tossed in a sweet-sour shrimp paste and tamarind dressing, topped with crushed peanuts. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Rojak is a Malay word for mixture, and in Singapore it names a tossed salad of crisp fruit and vegetables in a thick, sticky dressing. The dressing is the point: dark shrimp paste, tamarind, lime, sugar and chili make it salty, sour, sweet and pungent all at once. Pieces of fried dough fritter soak up the sauce, and crushed peanuts add crunch. Eat it right after tossing, while everything is still crisp.
Instructions
- Whisk the shrimp paste, lime juice, sugar, tamarind, chili paste and water until smooth. Taste it: it should be sweet, tangy, salty and a little fiery. Adjust with more lime or sugar.
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Spread the dough fritter pieces on a tray and crisp them for 5 minutes. Let them cool.
- Put the pineapple, cucumber, jicama, bean sprouts and tofu puffs in a large bowl.
- Pour over the dressing and toss until everything is evenly coated and glossy.
- Add the crisp fritters and toss once more, lightly, so they stay crunchy.
- Pile onto plates and scatter with the crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
Tips
- Thick sweet shrimp paste (hae ko) is sold in jars at Asian grocery stores. If you cannot find it, mix 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce with 1 teaspoon fish sauce and an extra teaspoon of tamarind.
- Toss just before serving. Cucumber and pineapple release water and will thin the dressing if the salad sits.
Questions and answers
How long does rojak dressing keep?
The dressing keeps about 1 week in a sealed jar in the fridge. Chop and toss the produce only when you are ready to eat.
Can I make rojak vegetarian?
Yes. Use 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon tamarind and a pinch of salt in place of the shrimp paste. The flavor is sweeter but still balanced.
Which fruits can I use for rojak?
Pineapple is standard, and unripe mango, green apple, guava or turnip-like jicama all work. Pick firm, slightly tart fruit that stays crunchy in the dressing.
How long does it take to make Rojak (Singapore Fruit and Vegetable Salad)?
About 30 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Rojak (Singapore Fruit and Vegetable Salad)?
About 320 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 46 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 46 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 22 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
