Sambal Oelek
March 4, 2014
I adore all the little sauce-pots at Thai, Vietnamese, and other Asian restaurants – not to mention the daily presence that Sriracha has become in my life since discovering it a few years back. But when I look at the labels on any of these sauces, I can’t help but think there must be a simpler, cleaner way to add a kick to my dishes.
That’s why I love Sambal Oelek. In the purest versions of this Malaysian recipe, you need only combine three ingredients – chili peppers, vinegar, and salt – to bring depth and spice to dishes of all kinds. That said, customization is key! I make mine with Serrano chilies – halfway between the jalapeno and the habanero on the heat index – and smoked salt, and add lime.
You will be addicted to this easy-prep, long-lasting sauce, which is ideal for adding some quick-at-hand spiciness in your stir-fries, sandwiches, or scrambled eggs.
A note about the seeds – like your favorite mini-skirt, they bring the heat. Add with caution to get smokin’, not scorched.
SAMBAL OELEK
Ingredients:
- 20 Red Serrano Chili Peppers
- 2 tbls. Rice Vinegar
- The juice of 2 Limes
- Smoked Salt to taste
Directions:
De-stem and de-seed chilies, reserving and placing aside the seeds from 3 of them, then cut chilies into 1-inch sections and blend in food processor until they achieve a paste-like texture. Combine with rice vinegar and lime juice, then add seeds – slowly, they are very hot – and smoked salt to taste. Place in a glass jar and store in the refrigerator.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 30
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