Condiments 101: Sambals

"A sambal is a chili based sauce which is normally used as a condiment. Sambals are popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the southern Philippines and Sri Lanka, as well as in the Netherlands and in Suriname through Indonesian influence. Some African cooking uses a sambal type ingredient but it is not called by the same name, although the results are much similar.  Sambal is typically made from a variety of peppers, although chili peppers are the most common. It is sometimes a substitute for fresh chilis. It can be extremely spicy for the uninitiated."




Sambal is a spicy Southeast Asian condiment. A sambal adds a dark, fiery flavor to dishes. It can be used as a condiment or as an ingredient in other dishes.   A sambal can be made as simply as just chile peppers and salt. A more involved recipe for a sambal might use onion, lime juice, lemongrass, sugar, garlic, oil, vinegar. In this country, you can find sambals in the Asian foods section of large supermarkets or in gourmet and Asian food stores. Or you can make you own, although some of the ingredients for more involved sambals may be harder to locate.

Note: Some dishes made with chilis or using sambal as an ingredient are also calls Sambals. We are talking here about the condiment.

If you would like to try making your own Sambal at home visit the link below

Tasty Indonesian Foods