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Sambal oelek is a simple paste made from chili peppers. In comparison to other chil pepper preparations like sriracha, sambal oelek may offer more heat and a broader array of health benefits. Some of those health benefits come from the fact that it contains nutrients like those listed below. Note that there are different brands of sambal oelek (and you can make it yourself) – expect nutritional content to vary from brand to brand and recipe to recipe.
Vitamins
The chili peppers used to make sambal oelek are a great source of carotenoids. Carotenoids show up in various colorful vegetables including dark, leafy greens and carrots. Your body converts carotenoids into vitamin A. Your body uses vitamin A for vision as well as for maintaining vital organs including the heart, lung and kidneys.
A quick look at the ingredients label on some sambal oelek jars will also show you that this chili paste contains vitamin C. Your body uses vitamin C to synthesize protein and to make collagen, which is essential for wound healing and skin elasticity. Also, you need vitamin C to have a functioning immune system.
On top of all that, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and may delay cancer development. A lack of vitamin C in the diet results in scurvy, the symptoms of which include a lack of energy along with weak connective tissues throughout the body.
As with other chili pepper products, some brands of sambal oelek may also contain vitamin K, which is essential for bone health.
Minerals
Two minerals that you can get from sambal oelek are sodium and potassium. The sodium comes mostly from the salt used in the paste. While the salt is added mainly for flavoring purposes, it is actually an important nutrient that helps with the maintenance of your blood pressure. Your muscles also need it to function correctly.
Potassium has a strong relationship with sodium, and together they work to maintain the fluid volume in your body’s cells. You also need potassium for your nerves to transmit signals properly and for your muscles to contract as they should.
Capsaicin
Sambal oelek’s primary application is as a hot sauce. The source of its heat is the compound capsaicin, but there is more to it than just flavor. Capsaicin offers a variety of health benefits that include the fact that it can fight the cells of certain cancers. Studies have shown that capsaicin may be valuable for combating prostate and breast cancer, for example. It may even be effective against come lung tumors.
According to other research, capsaicin also lowers cholesterol levels while blocking a gene that causes arteries to contract. By preventing artery contractions, capsaicin may make blockages of blood flow less likely and thus reduce your risk of heart attack and strokes.
Along with the healthy compounds in it, sambal oelek also has nutritional benefits such as:
No added sugar: While recipes for sambal oelek do differ, most — if not all — are sugar-free. The lack of sugar makes it a healthier option when compared to popular hot sauces like sriracha. As a sugar-free option sambal oelek is not only a low-calorie condiment, it also lowers your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
No cholesterol: Sambal oelek contains no cholesterol, which means that it will not increase your risk of clogged arteries and the health issues — like strokes and heart attacks — that can result from them.
1. It's Healthier. The composition of sambal oelek is almost identical to sriracha, except for the fact that it contains no sugar. While this lack of sugar gives sambal oelek a distinctly different taste and texture from sriracha, I find that the absence of sugar allows the other flavours to stand out.
Sambal also contains salt. Thus, you should not consume sambal in excess. According to the American Heart Association, your sodium intake should be less than 1 500 mg daily to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases.
Compared to sriracha, sambal oelek is less acidic and lacks a strong presence of vinegar, so you can add heat to a dish without impacting the overall flavor. Sambal is also a slightly thicker, slightly chunkier sauce with chile pepper seeds included throughout.
“Sambal ulek is a great pairing for fried or grilled chicken, lalapan—a variety of boiled or raw veggies—fried tempeh, fried tofu, fried or grilled fish, grilled beef ribs, egg dishes, and more. The best way is to eat it with rice. It can also be used for soups,” Del Valle says.
Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, headache, decreased libido, abnormal dreams, blurred vision, and dry mouth. It even causes dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
For example, in China, we have what we call a “chili garlic” paste. Northerners in China usually use this “sambal oelek” for dumplings mixed with ChinKiang vinegar.
Sambal oelek goes fabulously with fried or grilled proteins such as tofu, tempeh, chicken, eggs, and beef ribs. One of the best ways to use this spicy paste is to add it to rice-based dishes or use it to build soups, but it can also add flavor to lalapan, which are Sudanese raw or boiled vegetables.
Sambal Oelek is a spicy Indonesian chili paste made with hot red peppers. It's typically made with hot red chile peppers, salt and vinegar. Some variations can contain onion, lemon, sugar, etc.
The phrase sambal oelek in particular translates to ground chili sauce, but the word “oelek” is actually a Dutch spelling of the Indonesian word ulek, which means to grind in a mortar.
This punch of flavor can make it much easier to stick with a healthy-eating diet plan. The kick of spicy foods can also actively assist healthy weight-loss. Studies have shown that capsaicin, the active ingredient in chilies and hot sauce, can speed metabolism, helping your body to burn calories even faster.
We've also delved into the numerous potential health benefits that Sambal can offer, from its anti-inflammatory properties attributed to capsaicin to its potential digestive benefits. Coupled with a balanced and mindful approach to consumption, Sambal can be a welcome addition to your keto meal plan.
Sriracha is one of the best low-calorie condiments. It's very low in sodium and also contains capsaicin, which helps reduce cholesterol in your body and even inhibits the growth of cancer. Capsaicin is also known to help regular blood sugar levels even help you lose weight.
Preparation and availability. A traditional manner of making sambal using a cobek, a stone mortar and an ulekan, a pestle. Traditional sambals are freshly made using traditional tools, such as a stone pestle and mortar. Sambal can be served raw or cooked.
Our favorite Korean chili paste, gochujang, has a texture almost like a jam and a sweet, garlicky, spicy kick that rivals none. Also distinct from sambal is a funkiness, akin to blue cheese, that can be tasted in the spread, coming from fermentation.
What can I use instead of sambal oelek? The best substitutes are garlic & chilli sauce, sriracha (though this is sweeter than sambal) or crushed chilli. It's easy to make your own, too.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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