Explore the world of Indonesian Sambal Oelek chili paste, not just a spicy sauce but a flavor-rich paste with deep roots. I'll show you how to whip up your own using a few simple ingredients in just five minutes. It's a homemade wonder that beats any store-bought version, perfect for spicing up your favorite dishes!
💎 Why This Recipe Works
- Ingredients: I will explain why each ingredient is added, how it is chosen, and how each component contributes to the flavor profile of this delicious chili paste. This means you can adapt the proportions to your very own preferences, preservatives free!
- Storage: This sauce is very flavorful, and you need very little of it per serving. So storing it correctly means that a 5-minute recipe ensures you have Sambal Oelek chili paste for months ahead!
- Usage Tips: This chili paste is so easy to add to your everyday cooking, as it is an extremely versatile condiment, and one tablespoon will serve the whole family!
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❓ What is Sambal Oelek?
Sambal Oelek is a spicy chili sauce or paste that comes from Indonesia. The word Sambal is an Indonesian loanword of Javanese origin (sambel). It is made from a mixture of chili peppers, along with secondary ingredients such as shrimp paste, garlic, ginger, shallot, scallion, palm sugar, and lime juice.
The name "sambal oelek" comes from the Javanese phrase "oelek [or ulek] sambal," which means "to pound or to grind." The traditional way of making Sambal Oelek involves grinding fresh chili peppers. You grind them with a mortar and pestle until they become a smooth paste.
It is a versatile condiment that can be used in various dishes. One of the most popular recipes using this chili paste is Nasi Goreng, an Indonesian fried rice dish.
My personal favorite is Beef Rendang, an Indonesian slow-cooked beef curry that packs a lot of flavor and heat. For balance, it is perfectly served with coconut rice.
It can also serve as a dipping sauce, perfect for spring rolls or dumplings. Additionally, it makes a great marinade for grilled meats or seafood. However, I highly recommend it as a spread in sandwiches, especially when using fried or grilled chicken or fish, beef [try adding it to this perfect Ribeye Steak Sandwich with Arugula] or mixing a little with scrambled eggs or mixed with simple chickpea hummus.
🛒 Ingredients and Substitutions
- Red chili peppers: When making sambal oelek, start with the right chili peppers – Thai red chilis are traditional, but red jalapenos, Fresno, cayenne, or serranos work too, depending on how spicy you like it.
- Shallots, garlic, and ginger: Shallots, garlic, and ginger are key for adding depth – shallots for sweetness, garlic for a punch, and ginger for a warm, earthy touch. You can swap shallots with onions, but use less initially.
- Vinegar and lime juice: Vinegar and lime juice bring a necessary tang to counter the heat; rice wine vinegar is classic, but white or apple cider vinegar works too. Lemon juice can replace lime if needed.
- Sugar: Lastly, brown sugar is excellent for balancing the spice and adding richness, but any sugar, like palm sugar, will do the trick.
🔔 Be sure to check out the recipe card for all the ingredients and instructions you'll need to make this dish. Don't miss out on any of the details!
✨Equipment:
- Molcajete: A molcajete is a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle used for grinding spices.
- Food Processor or a Blender: If you don't have a molcajete, you can use a food processor or blender to make your sambal oelek. A food processor is the better choice between the two, as it won't blend the seeds, so opt for it if available.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make (step-by-step)
- Start by washing the red chilies and removing their green stems.
- Peel and roughly chop the shallots, ginger, and garlic.
- Add all the ingredients to a food processor [Picture 1] and blend until you achieve your desired consistency.
- You may need to use a spoon to move the ingredients from the sides occasionally for them to blend well. [Picture 2]
- Taste the fresh chili paste and adjust the seasoning to your preference.
- Remove the Sambal Oelek from the food processor and move it to an airtight container to store.
- Serve it as a condiment with your favorite recipes or get fancy with new ones!
💡 Tips and Variations
- When making Sambal Oelek, remember to handle chili peppers with care to avoid skin and eye irritation – wearing gloves is a good idea.
- Depending on the chilies' freshness and your texture preference, you might need a bit of water, but usually no more than a few tablespoons.
- For a unique twist, add a tablespoon of shrimp paste for umami flavor, but watch out for allergies.
- You can also mix in ripe tomatoes for sweetness or a bit of honey for a milder taste.
- For the perfect texture in your Sambal Oelek, I'd recommend using a food processor over a blender. This way, you avoid crushing the seeds, which can make all the difference in the final product.
❄️ Storage and Usage
When storing sambal oelek, it's important to keep it in an airtight container to prevent spoilage and maintain its freshness. As you can see in the below picture, my preference is for glass containers with a jar seal made of silicone. Here are some tips for storing your homemade sambal oelek:
- Airtight jar: Ensure the jar is tightly sealed to keep out air and other contaminants. Always use a clean and dry spoon to remove the desired amount from the jar.
- Refrigeration: storing your sambal oelek in the refrigerator is best to extend its shelf life. It can last for up to 2-3 months when stored in the fridge.
- Freeze: For a handy way to use this flavorful ingredient, just spoon a teaspoon of the paste into an ice cube tray and freeze for three hours. Once they're frozen, pop the cubes into a container or freezer bag. They're perfect for defrosting as needed!
🙋 People Also Ask [FAQs]
Is Sambal Oelek Gluten Free?
Yes, sambal oelek is gluten free since it does not include any wheat-based ingredients. It is mainly composed of red chilies, vinegar, and salt - making it a great condiment for people with different dietary restrictions.
How Long Does Sambal Oelek Last?
Sambal Oelek has a shelf life of up to three months if stored properly. It is important to keep the paste sealed tightly and stored in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight for optimal longevity.
Is Sambal Oelek The Same As Chili Garlic Sauce?
While both condiments provide a spicy kick to dishes, they differ in their ingredients and flavor profiles; sambal Oelek has more of a kick to it thanks to the higher concentration of ground chili peppers, whereas chili garlic sauce has hints of garlic and may include other spices.
How Do You Pronounce Sambal Oelek?
To pronounce Sambal Oelek, say "saam-bal-oh-lek."
🍱 Ways to Use Sambal Oelek in Cooking
Here are some creative ways to incorporate sambal oelek into your dishes:
- As a condiment: serve your sambal oelek as a condiment alongside your favorite rice dishes, meats, or seafood. Add a dollop to your plate for an added spicy kick, as it is used traditionally for seasoning noodle dishes.
- In marinades and sauces: add sambal oelek to marinades and sauces for a spicy depth of flavor, whether you're grilling, baking, or roasting.
- In soups and stews: sambal oelek makes a great addition to soups and stews, lending its spicy flavor to warm and comforting dishes.
- As a dipping sauce: mix sambal oelek with soy sauce, lime juice, and sugar for a tangy and spicy dipping sauce for dumplings, spring rolls, or other appetizers. Try dipping seasoned potato wedges in it!
🎯 Substitutes For Sambal Oelek
1. Chili Garlic Sauce
- Chili garlic sauce is a popular Asian and American condiment made from chili pepper, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt. It is known for its sweet and sour flavor with a strong garlic aroma.
- It's a versatile ingredient, thicker than sambal oelek, suitable for stir-fries, marinades, and dipping sauces, and can be used interchangeably while adjusting the quantity to your desired level of spiciness.
2. Sriracha Sauce
- Sriracha sauce, known as "rooster sauce," is a tangy and spicy condiment from Thailand but popular in the United States.
- Made from chili pepper paste, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt, it's a bright red sauce with a smooth texture. It can substitute sambal oelek in recipes with similar heat and acidity, although it may require lime juice or vinegar for balance due to its sweeter, milder taste.
- Huy Fong Foods stated that there is a shortage of peppers growing due to the weather [as per CNBC's recent article], so you may find it difficult to find their beloved sauce in the shop these days, so you may need to make your own spicy sauce to opt for other sauces.
3. Hot Sauce
- Hot sauce, a chili pepper, vinegar, and salt-based condiment, comes in numerous varieties, from mild to wild, with different brands like Tabasco, Louisiana, Frank's RedHot, and Cholula being popular in the US.
- It can serve as a versatile substitute for sambal oelek, offering a range of heat levels and flavors to suit your preferences.
4. Red Pepper Flakes
- Dried red pepper flakes, found in most grocery stores and spice shops, are a budget-friendly alternative to sambal oelek, offering various heat levels and textures. Be mindful that crushed red pepper flakes won't mimic the texture of Sambal Oelek chili paste made with fresh chilies, however, it is a good alternative.
- To mimic sambal oelek, mix the dried peppers with vinegar, lime juice, brown sugar, and garlic powder.
- For detailed instructions and more creative ways to replace sambal oelek, take a look at our homemade chili paste recipe with several other substitutes, designed to help you keep that special zest in your dishes.
🍽️ Recipe
Homemade Sambal Oelek Chili Paste Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Molcajete or
- 1 Blender
Ingredients
- 80 grams Thai chili peppers or any red chili peppers
- 3 Shallots chopped
- 3 Cloves Garlic large size
- 1 teaspoon Ginger chopped
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice
- 3 tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoon Brown Sugar
- Water optional
- 1 tablespoon salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
- Wear gloves if you have sensitive skin because these chilies can be very spicy. Wash them and remove the stems from the Thai chili peppers. If you want a milder paste, you can also remove some or all of the seeds.
- Peel and roughly chop the shallots, ginger, and garlic cloves.
Step 2: Blend the Ingredients
- Using a Food Processor:
- Place all the ingredients in the food processor.
- Pulse the ingredients until they form a coarse paste. You may need to scrape down the sides of the processor bowl a couple of times.
- If the paste is too thick or your chilies are dry, you can add a little water, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
Using a Molcajete:
- If you prefer to go traditional, use a Molcajete (a Mexican mortar and pestle).
- Start by grinding the chili peppers, shallots, garlic, and ginger in the Molcajete until they form a rough paste.
- Gradually add the lime juice, brown sugar, and salt, continuing to grind and mix until you achieve a consistent paste.
Step 3: Adjust to Taste
- Taste your Sambal Oelek paste. You can adjust the flavor by adding more salt, sugar, rice vinegar, or lime juice according to your preference.
Step 4: Store
- Transfer your homemade Sambal Oelek paste into a clean, airtight jar. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
- Top Tip: Top it with a thin layer of oil to help preserve it.
Notes
- Be cautious when handling chili peppers, especially if you're using Thai peppers. The capsaicin can irritate your skin and eyes. Wearing gloves is a good practice.
- Adjust the spiciness by controlling the number of chili seeds you include. More seeds mean hotter paste.
- Use brown sugar for a slightly richer flavor, but you can substitute it with white sugar if needed.
- The addition of water is optional but can help achieve the desired consistency.
- You can also freeze Sambal oelek chili paste! Scoop a little sauce into each hole of an ice cube tray and freeze for three hours. Once frozen, remove the cubes from the tray and store them in a freezer bag or container. Defrost when needed.
- Top tip if freezing: Use a silicone tray for ease of removal!
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