Malaysian Rojak (Fruit and Vegetable Salad with Shrimp Paste Dressing)

About This Recipe

Rojak, meaning 'mixture' in Malay, brings together an unusual combination of fruit and vegetables — typically pineapple, cucumber, jicama and mango — unified by a bold dressing built on fermented shrimp paste and palm sugar. The dressing is the defining element, a thick, dark, intensely savory-sweet sauce that might seem unusual paired with fruit but creates a genuinely addictive balance once tossed together with the crisp, juicy vegetables. Topped generously with crushed roasted peanuts for crunch, rojak is a beloved Malaysian street food snack or light meal, its bold flavor combination reflecting the country's willingness to embrace unexpected pairings.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 cupspineapple(cubed)
• 1cucumber(cubed)
• 1 cupjicama(cubed)
• 1green mango(cubed)
• 2 tbspfermented shrimp paste (hae ko or belacan)
• 3 tbsppalm sugar or brown sugar
• 2 tbsplime juice
• 1 tbsptamarind paste
• 1-2red chiles(to taste)
• 1/2 cuproasted peanuts(crushed)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the fruit and vegetables

   Cut pineapple, cucumber, jicama and mango into similarly sized cubes.

2. 2

   Make the dressing

   Blend shrimp paste, palm sugar, lime juice, tamarind paste and chiles into a thick, dark sauce.

   Taste and adjust the dressing carefully — shrimp paste varies in intensity between brands, so start with less and add more to taste.

3. 3

   Combine

   Toss the fruit and vegetables with the dressing until well coated.

4. 4

   Garnish

   Scatter crushed peanuts generously over the top.

5. 5

   Serve

   Serve immediately.

Variations

• •

  Some versions add fried tofu puffs or youtiao (Chinese crullers) for extra texture.

• •

  A version with more fruit, like guava or star fruit, is common depending on seasonal availability.

• •

  Rojak buah is a fruit-only version without vegetables, focusing purely on the sweet-savory contrast.

Storage

Best eaten fresh; refrigerate leftovers up to 1 day, though the texture and flavor are best enjoyed immediately after assembling.

Frequently Asked Questions