rojak — West Java, Indonesia

Rojak is a mixed salad of fruit and vegetables reported across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Its name means 'mixture' in Malay, and the dish is built around whatever produce is on hand, tossed in a bold sweet, sour and spicy dressing that ties the varied pieces together. In West Java, rojak commonly combines unripe fruit such as green mango or pineapple with vegetables like cucumber and jicama, and is sold at market stalls and by street vendors alongside other regional salads. It is generally eaten as a light snack or side rather than a main course. The dressing is pounded from ingredients such as chili, palm sugar, tamarind, roasted peanuts and a little shrimp paste, then loosened with water or lime juice until it coats the fruit without drowning it. The fruit and vegetables are peeled, sliced and tossed with this dressing just before serving so the pieces stay crisp and do not release too much water. The mix of fruit and vegetables used, and the balance of sweet, sour, spicy and salty in the dressing, differ noticeably from one region and even one stall to another; some versions lean sweeter, others sharper with chili or shrimp paste, and a few add crackers for crunch.