Ketoprak (Jakarta Rice Cake, Tofu and Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce)
A Jakarta street food bowl of soft rice cakes, crisp tofu, vermicelli and fresh vegetables under thick peanut sauce.
Made with Satay sauce and Sambal oelek (chilli sambal). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.44 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Fry the tofu in 2 tbsp oil in a non stick pan over a medium high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until crisp and golden. Drain on kitchen paper.
7 min - 2
Cook the rice vermicelli in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes, drain and rinse in cold water.
3 min 30 s - 3
Fry the rice cubes in the remaining oil for 5 to 6 minutes, turning, until crisp outside. This stands in for the lontong rice cakes.
5 min 30 s - 4
Blanch the beansprouts and cabbage in boiling water for 30 seconds, then drain well.
0 min 30 s - 5
Warm your ready made satay sauce (see the base recipe) with a splash of water until steaming hot and pourable.
- 6
Arrange the rice cakes, tofu, vermicelli, vegetables and cucumber in four bowls. Spoon over plenty of sauce, add sambal from your base recipe to taste, and top with the fried shallots.
Tips
- Traditional lontong is rice steamed in a banana leaf. Pressed, chilled sushi rice, cut and fried, is an easy UK stand in.
- Add sambal gradually. It is hot, and the dish should be nutty first and spicy second.
- Check the crispy shallots are labelled gluten free, as some are coated in wheat flour.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Keep the sauce and components separately in the fridge for 1 day, then reheat the sauce until steaming hot.
Questions
What is ketoprak?
Ketoprak is a popular street food from Jakarta. It combines rice cakes, tofu, noodles and vegetables with peanut sauce, and is eaten for lunch or a light supper.
Is ketoprak vegan?
Yes, when made with this tofu and satay sauce version, and if the crispy shallots contain no milk or egg. It is also gluten free.
Can I leave out the rice cakes?
Yes. Double the vermicelli, or add boiled new potatoes for a heartier bowl.
More made with satay sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.