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+ servings

Quick & Easy Sambal Oelek (Indonesia Chili Paste)

Christie Lai
Sambal Oelek aka Sambal Ulek. A delicious spicy chili sauce made with chilies, onion, shallots, garlic, tomatoes and oil. Ready in 20 minutes!
5 from 8 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Condiments
Cuisine Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean
Servings 2 cups
Calories per serving 786 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
  • 70 grams red chili peppers For mild version: use red chili peppers like serrano's, fresno, cayenne, or tobasco. For extra spicy: use bird's eye chillies
  • 70 grams green chili peppers For mild version, use jalapeno peppers. For extra spicy: use bird's eye chillies
  • 260 grams tomatoes I used cherry tomatoes for a sweeter flavour
  • 2 shallots halved
  • 1 small yellow onion sliced
  • 1 bulb garlic peeled

Seasoning

Instructions
 

  • In a hot wok or deep pan on high heat, add 2 tablespoon vegetable oil, followed by your red and green chilis, onion, shallots, tomatoes and garlic cloves. Char them until the edges are browned.
  • Remove and transfer to a blender, food processor or mortar and pestle. Blend on high or ground with pestle until finely grounded.
  • Pour the ingredients back into the pan. Tip: I recommend turning on the stove fan on high or cooking this outdoors on a portable stovetop to prevent inhaling hot chili smoke which can lead to a coughing fest!
  • Bring the paste to a boil and add ½ cup vegetable oil, sugar, salt, lime juice and chicken powder. Stir to mix. Allow this to simmer on low heat for 10 minutes uncovered. Taste and season with more sugar, salt or chicken powder if needed.
  • Allow this to cool and transfer to a mason jar. Serve & enjoy!

Notes

Store sambal sauce in fridge in an airtight container to last for at least a week. You can freeze your plastic jar of sambal and it will last 5-6 months.
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Nutrition
Calories: 786kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 69g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 2591mg | Potassium: 568mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 1418IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1mg