rujak

Rujak is a traditional Indonesian salad consisting of a mix of fresh fruit and sometimes vegetables, coated with a thick, sweet, sour, and spicy sauce. It is especially popular in Java, Bali, and Sumatra, with numerous regional variations. When made with fruit only, it is commonly referred to as rujak buah.

Typical fruits include unripe mango, green papaya, pineapple, jackfruit, cucumber, bengkoang (jicama), and sometimes melon or watermelon. The fruits are cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with the sauce. Common additions include toasted peanuts or sesame for texture and crunch, and krupuk (prawn crackers) served on the side or mixed in just before eating.

The sauce, or bumbu rujak, is a thick paste made from palm sugar, tamarind juice, and chili peppers, often with ground roasted peanuts. Some recipes include shrimp paste (terasi), lime or calamansi juice, salt, and sometimes other spices. The balance is sweet, sour, and spicy.

Variations include rujak sayur, which uses vegetables such as cucumber, bean sprouts, cabbage, and lettuce; and rujak cingur, a Surabaya specialty that accompanies slices of boiled beef snout and other ingredients. Rujak is commonly sold by street vendors and enjoyed as a refreshing snack or dessert, especially on hot days.