Sambal is a type of spicy sauce or paste where chilli is the main ingredient. It serves as a condiment to complement other dishes. The name is a generic term used for a spicy condiment in countries in the Southeast Asian region.
Why is this the best Sambal recipe?
This is possibly the best sambal recipe you can find online. The feedback from community who had tried and tested this recipe is certainly very positive.
The secret lies in the combination of chillies used. Both dried and fresh chillies give the best flavours.
Can I use only one type of chillies?
Certainly! In this sambal recipe, fresh and dried chillies are used. Dried chillies gives a deeper flavour and colour to this spicy condiment while adding a decent amount of smokiness. Fresh chillies on the other hand are added for its bright red colour and spiciness.
Although the heat from fresh cayenne chillies are not as hot compared to dried chillies, it is more intense. Using both types of chillies gives a bolder heat to the sambal.
How spicy is sambal?
Sambal can be made very spicy or almost non spicy. It all depends on the chillies that are used and how they are processed. Cayenne chillies are more commonly used in Malaysia. Sometimes, bird eye chillies which are much spicier are selected instead.
To lessen the spiciness of the chillies, remove the membranes and the seeds. Read more to see how dried chillies are made less spicy.
How to eat sambal?
Sambal is so versatile that it can be served with noodles, rice or even flat bread. It goes well with seafood or meat too. Besides nasi lemak, sambal complements noodles such as Mee Goreng (fried noodles) or Nasi Goreng (fried rice).
It is also served as an accompaniment with roti canai (Malaysian flat bread). Each type of sambal has its individuality due to the different ingredients used. One of its many variations is sambal belacan which is raw.
Ingredients for sambal
Chillies and aromatics such as ginger, garlic, onions beside others are usually blended or pounded together. The paste will then be either served raw or sauteed in hot oil until it changes into a darker shade of red. This recipe requires the use of coconut milk although it is not commonly used in Malaysian sambal.
However, this is my preference as I find the addition makes the taste spectacular! Another ingredient that really makes this condiment stands out is the blended anchovies. It gives the dish its individuality and makes it really delectable.
Preparing sambal in advance
I would always cook this in large quantity and store them in containers to be kept frozen. Cooking sambal is quite a task as the heat needs to be well-controlled besides balancing the amount of sweetness, sourness and saltiness that goes into the dish.
Above all, this dish requires the usage of quite a bit of oil because the chilli paste needs to be sauteed until it is fragrant.
How to store sambal?
Sambal can be kept refrigerated in a clean and dry air tight container for up to 5 days. Otherwise, freeze it for up to 6 months. It is advisable to freeze it in small amounts as it would be more convenient for later use.
However, if kept frozen in a big container, allow to thaw for 10 minutes before using a clean fork to scoop out the desired amount. Before consuming, steam sambal for about 20 minutes.
