5.0 from 27 votes
Malaysian Sambal Sauce
If there is any one ingredients that brings life to any Malaysian dish it is the sublime chilli sambal. A heady combination of colour, spice and flavour. It’s the essence of Malaysia and Singapore and the great news is that it’s easy to make at home.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 73 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Indonesian , Malaysian , Singaporean
Ingredients
- 30 dried red chillies (deseeded, optional)
- 20 fresh Thai chillies (deseeded, optional)
- 5 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 2 inch galangal
- 2 inch Turmeric
- 1 talk lemongrass (white part only, sliced)
- 1 cup shallots (peeled and sliced)
- 1 tbsp shrimp paste (belacan)
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 3 tbsp palm sugar (or brown sugar)
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste/pulp
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Soak dried chillies for 30 minutes in hot water and then drain and add to blender or jug
- Add the fresh chillies, garlic, galangal, turmeric, lemongrass and shallots. Blend until smooth. Add the Shrimp paste, fish sauce, tamarind and sugar and stir well.
- Heat a wok or deep pan with the oil until hot over a medium/hot heat. Tip in the sambal and let it sizzle in the oil. Stir in 1 cup water and let it come to a simmer. Reduce the heat a little and gently simmer for 25-30 minutes to reduce the sauce until thick and jam-like, stirring regularly to avoid sticking.
- Let the sambal cool completely and decant to an airtight container or jar. Serve cold.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Storing Sambal
- Other uses
- Sambal makes for the perfect chilli paste for stir fries and stir-throughs. Add 1 tbsp and a little water and simmer with some peeled boiled eggs for Sambal eggs. Stir some sambal through freshly cooked egg or rice noodles. Use 1 tbsp with some oil and day old rice for a simple fried rice. There are so many dishes that use sambal as an ingredient.
- Sambal will stay fresh in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. Be sure to seal it in an airtight container.
- Freeze sambal in small portions for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
Calories
73kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
16g
(5%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.03g
Cholesterol
14mg
(5%)
Sodium
179mg
(7%)
Potassium
366mg
(10%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
9g
(18%)
Vitamin A
1047IU
(21%)
Vitamin C
110mg
(122%)
Calcium
29mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 73
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 73kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 16g | 5% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.03g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 14mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 179mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 366mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 1047IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 110mg | 122% |
| Calcium | 29mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.