Maya Sari
My good friend revealed to me the magic of Sambal Oelek in the kitchen. She revealed the recipe—a secret concoction of garlic, red chilies, and love—while smiling warmly.
The smell of tradition and friendship filled the air as the mortar and pestle danced.
The spirit of shared meals and storytelling is in every spoonful.
These days, this beloved recipe serves as more than just a condiment—it serves as a memento of the delightful times spent finding and building relationships that add flavor to life’s journey.
There are 2 variations of sambal oelek: fresh sambal oelek that you can consume right away after being blended, or if you want to keep it longer, you can cook it first and keep it in the fridge.
I’ll teach you how to make both.
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5 Minutes Fresh sambal oelek
- Prepare and wash each and every fresh ingredient.
- Put the tomato, shallots, red chilies, and garlic cloves in a blender. Process until a gritty paste is achieved.
- Empty the paste into a bowl.
- Season with salt and palm sugar. Adjust the amounts to your desired level of sweetness and saltiness.
- If you want to add even more flavor depth, use shrimp paste. Modify the quantity to your personal taste preferences.
- Add lime juice to the mixture and thoroughly whisk.
- If required, taste the sambal oelek and adjust the seasoning.
- It’s time to serve your freshly made sambal oelek. Savoury it right away with your favorite foods.
This Indonesian Sambal Oelek Chili Paste gives your foods a flavor boost, whether it is used raw or cooked.
Take pleasure in the adaptable sauce over rice, noodles, or any other food that needs a little heat!
Extra tips and tricks to improve the taste of your sambal oelek!
Here are some extra tips and tricks to enhance the taste of your Sambal Oelek:
- Roast the ingredients
You can roast the garlic, shallots, and red chilies before blending for a richer taste. This gives the sambal oelek a smokey undertone.
- Tamarind paste
To add an air of tanginess, add a little bit of tamarind paste. This can enhance the sweetness and spice, resulting in a more nuanced taste.
- Add lemongrass
Add some chopped or blended lemongrass to the sambal oelek for a fragrant and zesty touch. Before use, remove the outer layers.
- Add a tiny bit of soy sauce.
A tiny bit of soy sauce may give the sambal oelek more flavour and depth. If using soy sauce, adjust the salt quantity appropriately.
- Allow for maturation.
Before eating the cooked sambal oelek, let it rest for a few hours or overnight. This allows the tastes to combine and deepen.
You may alter the recipe to suit your tastes, and don’t be scared to experiment with different components to create a truly unique Sambal Oelek!
Dishes that pair well with sambal oelek!
Sambal oelek, a tasty and adaptable condiment, goes well with a variety of foods. Here are several recipes that suit the spicy kick of Sambal Oelek:
- Nasi goreng – Indonesian fried rice
To add even more fire and flavour to your fried rice, stir in some sambal oelek.
- Satay – grilled skewers
Sambal oelek can be added to the marinade for the skewered meat or used as a dipping sauce for satay.
- Soto ayam – Indonesian chicken soup
For a spicy twist, top your dish of soto ayam with a tablespoon of sambal oelek.
- Mee goreng – Indonesian fried noodles
To enhance the flavour of your fried noodles, combine them with sambal oelek.
- Nasi lemak – Malaysian coconut rice
To create a vibrant taste contrast with nasi lemak, serve sambal oelek as a condiment.
- Bakso – Indonesian meatball soup
For an extra spicy sensation, top your bowl of bakso with a dollop of sambal oelek.
- Sambal matah – Balinese raw sambal
Combine sambal oelek with sambal matah to create a flavorful combination of raw and cooked chilli condiments.
- Grilled seafood
Use sambal oelek as a dipping sauce or marinade for seafood.
- Noodle soups
Sambal oelek may be used to enhance the taste of different noodle soups, such as ramen, tom yum, and pho.
- Stir-fried veggies
For an added flavour boost, toss some Sambal Oelek into stir-fried vegetables.
- Dim sum
For dim sum appetizers like dumplings or spring rolls, use sambal oelek as a dipping sauce.
Try out different combinations to determine the ones you like most. The rich and spicy nature of sambal oelek goes well with a broad range of meals and cuisines.
How do I store my sambal oelek?
Keep homemade sambal oelek refrigerated in an airtight, sealed container. To stop oxidation, apply a thin layer of oil to the surface.
Freeze it in ice cube trays if you want to store it for longer. Keep it dry to stop the growth of germs.
Ending note
Serve homemade sambal oelek to brighten up your meals!
Savoury the dynamic bite anytime you want a burst of flavor. Happy cooking!
Sambal Oelek
Ingredients
- Palm sugar, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tsp shrimp paste (optional)
- Lime juice
Ground Spices
- 5 cloves garlic
- 200 gr. shallots
- 250 gr. red chilies
- 1 tomato
Instructions
- Place the spice mixture in a pan and cook it over medium heat.
- Sambal oelek should be cooked for fifteen or twenty minutes, stirring often, or until the liquid thickens somewhat and the raw smell is gone.
- Depending on your taste preferences, adjust the lime juice, salt, and palm sugar.
- Add the shrimp paste to the pan and thoroughly combine. Simmer for another two to three minutes.
- Let the sambal oelek cool fully after cooking. After the sambal oelek has cooled, move it to a clean, airtight container. For a longer shelf life, keep the cooked sambal oelek refrigerated.
- Serve cold with your favorite recipes. Store this cooked version in the refrigerator for up to a week.
