If spicy is your thing and a jar of sambal hasn’t yet made an appearance in your kitchen, get ready: This condiment is hot stuff! But what exactly is sambal sauce, and why should you be putting it on (almost) everything? Here's what you need to know.
Sambal is a spicy Indonesian chile paste with an extensive history in southeast Asia and a serious fan club in the U.S. There are hundreds of variations of sambal—the Indonesian archipelago is vast and 300-plus ethnic groups prepare sambals with their own cultural stamp. In American supermarkets, the chile paste is typically sold in jars labeled "sambal oelek." One of the major distributors is Huy Fong Foods, the company largely responsible for bringing Sriracha into our kitchens. "Oelek" refers to the stone mortar and pestle traditionally used in preparing the fiery household staple, which is made by grinding chile peppers.
Huy Fong Foods Sambal Oelek Ground Fresh Chili Paste
Huy Fong Foods Sambal Oelek Ground Fresh Chili Paste
What ingredients are in sambal?
Basic sambal is made up of red chile peppers, vinegar, and salt. It’s chunkier than Sriracha and made with less vinegar and without sugar, giving it a bright, spicy flavor that'll appeal to chile pepper purists. Homemade sambal is sometimes described as having a natural sweetness from the chiles. Texture-wise, sambal is closer to a crushed paste or relish than a smooth sauce. Some versions on the market are made with the addition of ingredients like shrimp paste, anchovies, and garlic. The variations on sambal are plenty, and the more ingredients found in the paste, the more complex the flavor.
How do you use sambal?
Sambal is bold, so a little bit goes a long way. It can be used simply as a condiment: Try spooning some onto eggs, noodles, or grain dishes. Or use it as an ingredient: Whisk a spoonful into Ree Drummond's skirt steak marinade, dilute it with oil to make a quick sauce for noodles or roasted veggies, or add some to your next stir-fry dinner. We also love sambal oelek mixed with mayo—it makes for an amazing spicy dipping sauce. The possibilities are endless!
