As one of Indonesia’s most popular soy-based protein, tofu or tahu can be found in various iterations around the archipelago. It’s often served on its own as an afternoon snack or cut into pieces and cooked together with other ingredients in a stir fry.
Even as a small bite, there are many ways to cook and serve tofu. It can be fried on its own, deep fried in batter, smashed, served with sambal, or cooked in a sweet soy sauce. One such iteration of tofu in Indonesia is tahu gejrot.
What is tahu gejrot?
Tahu gejrot is an Indonesian street food snack originating from Cirebon in West Java. It contains tofu, smashed with a mortar and pestle and coated in a delicious sweet and spicy sauce. The word “gejrot” is Indonesian slang for “smashed,” referring to the way the dish is prepared.
This traditional Indonesian dish is iconically served in an earthenware mortar and can be found mostly sold by street vendors or at local markets, with prices ranging from Rp.10,000 to Rp.15,000. However, you can also order tahu gejrot in most casual restaurants.
How is tahu gejrot made?
The main ingredient in this Cirebon specialty is of course tofu, fried and then cut into smaller cubes.
The sauce is made of chilies, garlic, shallots, palm sugar, and pounded tamarind mixed with sweet soy sauce and some water. These ingredients create a thick, tangy sauce that melts in your mouth.
To put it all together, the fried cubed tofu is added into the sauce and mashed together, resulting in a crispy tofu that absorbs the sauce perfectly.
Although a street specialty, restaurants have adapted this classic recipe to create their own version of tahu gejrot. For an elevated, fine dining iteration, visit Merah Putih restaurant in Bali. Here, this timeless dish includes stuffed mushrooms in the otherwise hollow fried tofu, adding an earthiness you won’t find elsewhere.
Book a table at Merah Putih for a taste of tahu gejrot and use these gift vouchers today.
FAQ
The main ingredient in this Cirebon specialty is of course tofu, fried and then cut into smaller cubes. The sauce is made of chilies, garlic, shallots, palm sugar, and pounded tamarind mixed with sweet soy sauce and some water.
This traditional Indonesian dish is iconically served in an earthenware mortar and can be found mostly sold by street vendors or at local markets, with prices ranging from Rp.10,000 to Rp.15,000.
Yes, garlic is one of the ingredients used to make the sauce for tahu gejrot.
The word “gejrot” is Indonesian slang for “smashed,” referring to the way tahu gejrot is prepared.
