Sambal is a chili pepper sauce used in Indonesian, Malaysian, and Singaporean cuisine, as well as the Philippines and Sri Lanka. It can be made at home or purchased from specialty food stores. Sambal has health benefits and can be used with various types of food. Different types of chilies can be used to make sambal, and recipes vary by region, with additional ingredients such as fermented shrimp paste or mangoes.
Sambal is a chili pepper sauce used in Indonesian cuisine, Malaysia and Singapore. This condiment, or sauce which is used to complement or enhance the flavor of foods, is also used in the cuisine of the Philippines and Sri Lanka. These sauces can be made at home or purchased from specialty food stores throughout the United States. The most commonly available sambal in the United States is sambal oelek from Indonesia.
A number of different types of chiles can be used to make this condiment. These include red block cayenne pepper, which is high in vitamin A; the yellow adyuma, which is also called habanero; and the red or green bird’s eye chili. Other chilies used include the yellow or green Madame Jeanette chili and the red or green chili.
The hot chillies in sambal may have health benefits. Chilies may be able to reduce the “bad” cholesterol in the bloodstream, which is low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Additionally, chili peppers may increase the production of endorphins, the natural chemical that leads to “racer’s peak.” Hot peppers are also thought to aid digestion. Capsaicin, the ingredient in chili peppers that makes chili peppers “hot,” is generally credited with the health benefits of chili peppers.
A simple sambal oelek recipe includes four ounces of freshly chopped red chilies, two tablespoons of white rice vinegar, and one teaspoon of salt and sugar. The ingredients can be placed in a blender until the mixture is finely chopped. This seasoning can be refrigerated between uses.
Sambal can be used with numerous types of foods. Chili sauce is often used with seafood such as shrimp or scallops as well as poultry such as chicken. This condiment works well with asparagus and eggplant and is also used in rice and pasta dishes.
Not all sambalis are made the same, even within a region. For example, this condiment might include a fermented shrimp paste, tamarind paste, or crushed fried peanuts when made in Indonesia. Some Indonesian chili sauce recipes call for mangoes, candlenuts, scallions, or limes. Other recipes call for a combination of some of these additional ingredients.
Like Indonesia, Malaysia has variations on the sambal theme. These variations may include adding a dried fish strand called ikan serunding or kaffir lime. Other additions include toasted shrimp paste, tomatoes or sweet and sour mango.
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