FAQs
The best way is to eat it with rice. It can also be used for soups,” Del Valle says. Use sambal oelek as you would other hot sauces or pepper pastes. Try it in stir fries, like these stir-fried rice noodles, to accompany rice dishes, like Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice), or in a marinade, as with our beef satay.
What is the meaning of sambal oelek? ›
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.
What does sambal oelek taste like? ›
What Does Sambal Oelek Taste Like? With a sparse ingredient list, peppers shines through in this sauce. More relish than ketchup (or Sriracha, but we'll get to that later), the sauce is a reduced-down, thick chili spread. It gives a punch of heat that should be used sparingly.
Where is sambal used? ›
Sambal is an Indonesian loanword of Javanese origin (sambel). It originated from the culinary traditions of Indonesia and is also an integral part of the cuisines of Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and Sri Lanka. It has also spread through overseas Indonesian populations to the Netherlands and Suriname.
What is a good substitute for sambal oelek? ›
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.
When to add sambal oelek? ›
How to use sambal oelek. Sambal is an all-purpose condiment. It can be used as part of a marinade, added during the cooking process, or spooned on as a finishing touch.
Do you have to refrigerate sambal oelek? ›
You can also incorporate it into marinades. Keep the opened container of sambal oelek in the refrigerator, where it will last for a few months. Have you ever tried sambel oelek? What's your favorite way to use it?
Is sriracha the same as sambal oelek? ›
So... how is it different than Sriracha you ask? Sambal Oelek is a bit less processed than Sriracha. Sambal is thicker and contains less seasonings like garlic.
Is sambal oelek the same as chili sauce? ›
THE BOTTOM LINE: Sriracha is a totally smooth counterpart to the chunkier chili-garlic sauce, with all the same ingredients but with added sweetness from sugar. Chili-garlic sauce is nearly identical to sambal oelek, except that it contains garlic and sambal oelek does not.
What do you eat with sambal? ›
Traditionally sambal is used as an all-purpose condiment. It may be added to noodle dishes, soups, stews, meat, rice, and even eggs. Sambal can also be used to add heat and flavor to marinades, dips, sauces, and spreads. To make a spicy spread for sandwiches or burgers, mix sambal with ketchup or mayonnaise.
Huy Fong had to halt production entirely for a period last year, and not just on its sriracha; the company's popular Sambal Oelek was also affected. In 2023, the company is back to producing a small amount of its products, but it's nowhere near satisfying demand.
Does sambal taste like sriracha? ›
Sambal oelek tastes tangier and brighter because it has more vinegar and no sugar, compared to sriracha.
Where is sambal oelek from? ›
Though it's also popular in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, sambal oelek is native to Indonesia, where it's used as a basic condiment, much as Westerners would use any hot sauce. Stir it into your fried rice, or scoop it onto the eggs or avocado toast you're having for breakfast.
What is another name for sambal? ›
Sambal (or sambel in Javanese and Sundanese) is a sauce, paste, or relish made from chili pepper with secondary ingredients such as garlic, shallot, ginger, and shrimp paste [11].
Is gochujang the same as sambal oelek? ›
Sambal oelek differs from gochujang in that it isn't always sweetened, and it is not fermented. This means the flavors may not align perfectly, and you may wish to add a bit of sweetener to get closer.
Can I use sambal oelek instead of chili sauce? ›
The taste and hotness can be somewhat different but I use both interchangeably. Sambal Olek is only chili paste -without garlic- So if you add a bit of garlic you would get a very similar taste to Chinese chili garlic sauce.
Do you need to cook sambal oelek? ›
I've also seen recipes with the paste cooked down a bit. I suppose this would mellow it out, but traditionally the paste is simply ground with a mortar and pestal, though you can use a food processor to achieve the same effect, of course. You can find sambal oelek in stores.
Can you eat sambal oelek raw? ›
It can be eaten raw as a condiment to accompany grilled fish and meats and it can be cooked to form additional pastes, or simply used as an ingredient where chilli is called for. Sambal ulek (Indonesian) or oelek (Netherlands) takes its name from the process of using a pestle in a crushing and twisting motion.
