Learn how to prepare lalapan Sunda (Sundanese salad), Indonesian most popular vegetable platters that can be served cooked or raw with a side of sambal terasi and perfect with fried chicken.
What is lalapan sunda
Lalapan, or lalab, is a popular Sundanese vegetable dish. It’s similar to Indonesian Gado-gado salad, except lalapan does not come with a sauce and you can serve this as a side order along with turmeric rice, ayam kalasan, grilled chicken, fried fish, or any seafood dish.
The ingredients
There are no set rules on what vegetables make into lalab. You can add any edible vegetables to a platter and call it lalapan. Common ingredients include:
- Cabbage
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Small green eggplant
- Long beans
- Chayote
- Basil
- And other exotic vegetable, such as stinky beans (pete) and jengkol
How to cook lalapan
The choice is yours! Some people like it raw and some like it boiled (blanched), or have a combination of both.
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How to eat lalapan
Although lalapan doesn’t come with a dressing, it does, however, come with chili sauce. It is very common to have a few chili sauces on the table, and the most popular is sambal terasi. Terasi, aka shrimp paste, is a fermented condiment in Southeast Asian, Northeastern South Asian, and Southern Chinese cuisine. It has a very distinctive aroma since it is primarily made from finely crushed shrimp, then fermented for several weeks. You can find shrimp paste in Asian grocery stores.
If you’re not a fan of sambal terasi, you can also use sweet soy sauce and chopped Thai chilies.
Lalapan is a simple and healthy dish you can enjoy any time of the day. Just be sure you rinse the vegetables thoroughly.
Lalapan Sunda (Sundanese Salad)
Ingredients
- 8-10 cabbage leaves
- 1 large red tomato quartered
- 1 cucumber sliced, eaten raw
- 1 chayote
- Long beans trim the edges, and cut into
- Lemon basil
- Any greens that appear in a salad
Instructions
- Chayote: cut it half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds, then cut into bite-size.
How to prepare raw vegetables:
- Wash all the vegetables to be served raw and cut into bite-size portions.
How to lightly blanched/boiled/steamed vegetables:
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch/boil the vegetables just until wilted. Drain well. Or use a steamer to steam all the vegetables.
Liz says
I have never had this before, but love how fresh it looks!
Allyssa says
This is really easy to make and tasted really delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this sundanese recipe! Highly recommended!
shelby says
My first time with this recipe and it turned out delicious. Will definitely be sharing this with my friends!
Colleen says
This salad is so fresh and delicious. especially with that chili sauce! I will make it again. Thanks for sharing.
Eva says
Thank you for introducing me to a completely new recipe! Love learning about different cuisines!
Heidy says
Good morning! This Sundanese salad was excellent! I had it one other time when I was in CA, but I think your version was MUCH better. I love trying new foods with my children. I try to teach them about other cultures and cuisines, so they are a little more versed in life. We had a great convo over this Sundanese salad.
Shobelyn Dayrit says
I have never heard about his salad but looks so interesting. I bet it is delicious too.
Katie Crenshaw says
This is the first time I made this. It turned out great! The lemon basil really made it pop with flavor.
Natalie says
Lovely salad. Looks light, healthy, and delicious. I’m going to give the steamed veggies version a try. Thanks.
Gwynn Galvin says
I love learning about new cuisines. This recipe was delicious!
Jamie says
I love the combination of vegetables in this and how simple and easy it is to prepare! Definitely a winner in our family!