Sambal Oelek Recipe: Easy Indonesian Chili Paste
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Sambal Oelek is a simple Indonesian chili paste made from fresh red chilies, salt, and vinegar. This versatile condiment adds a fiery kick to many dishes, making it a popular choice in Indonesian and Southeast Asian cooking.
Sambal Oelek is typically served with main dishes such as Nasi Goreng (fried rice), satay, or grilled meats. It is also often added as an ingredient to vegetable stir-fries, soups like soto ayam, and stews for extra flavor. Most Indonesian recipes include a bit of sambal. While you might not find it in cakes or desserts, even fruit salads like rujak manis get a spicy twist with sambal!
This basic Sambal has a bold, spicy heat with a touch of tanginess from the vinegar. The flavor is straightforward, allowing the chilies to shine without being overly complex.
Substitutions for Sambal Oelek
If you are looking for sambal oelek replacements, you can substitute it with other spicy chili pastes or hot sauces like sriracha or chili garlic sauce, which offer similar heat and flavor.
However, there’s really no need for substitutions because making Sambal Oelek is so simple. With just a few ingredients and ten minutes of your time, you can create this flavorful chili paste at home without any hassle.
How Sambal Oelek Is Prepared
To make Sambal Oelek, fresh red chilies are washed, chopped, and ground with salt and vinegar until they form a paste.
Traditionally, Sambal Oelek is made by hand with a mortar and pestle (a cobek and ulekan), which brings out the unique texture and flavor. With the word oelek meaning grinding or crushing. However, for convenience, a blender or food processor can be used and will definitely save you time preparing your sambal!
Continue below for the full recipe with ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
Customization Options
You can adjust the heat by using milder or hotter chilies, depending on your preference. For a milder sambal, use red chili peppers (lombok), while for more heat, use red bird’s eye chilies (rawit).
Sambal oelek is often used as a base for other types of sambal. For example, Sambal Manis is a sweeter sambal made with ingredients like palm sugar and sometimes kecap manis (sweet soy sauce). Sambal Terasi includes chilies and terasi, a type of fermented shrimp paste, while Sambal Bajak is made with shallots, garlic, and occasionally tamarind or tomatoes for added depth.
Sambal Oelek (Indonesian Chili Paste)
This Sambal Oelek recipe is simple and quick! With only 3 ingredients, you can make a bold, spicy Indonesian chili paste in just 10 minutes.
This recipe will make about 1/2 cup of chili paste, which serves approximately 4-6 people. One serving is about 1-2 teaspoons of the paste.
Ingredients
- 1 cup red chilis (lombok peppers)
- 1 1/2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp vinegar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the chilies: Wash, stem, and roughly chop the red chilies.
- Grind the ingredients: In a mortar or food processor, grind the chilies with salt and vinegar until smooth. Adjust the vinegar to your preference for tanginess and thickness.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Use gloves when handling hot chilies to avoid skin irritation.
- For a smoother paste, remove the seeds from the chilies. For a chunkier texture, grind the chilies less.
- Store Sambal Oelek in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The flavors develop and intensify over time, getting even more flavorful after a day or two. For longer storage, freeze it in small portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and stir well before using.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 11Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1746mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 0g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated. These figures should be considered estimates.
