5 Appetizing Indonesian Sambal

Indonesia is famous for its culinary that is rich in spices and spices, one of which is chili sauce. Sambal is a complement to dishes that are almost always on the Indonesian dining table. With a varied spicy taste and a unique combination of ingredients, chili sauce is a special attraction in Indonesian cuisine. Here are five famous Indonesian chili sauces that must be tried:

1. Sambal Terasi

Sambal terasi is a typical chili sauce that uses shrimp paste or fermented shrimp as the main ingredient. Terasi gives a distinctive aroma and a strong savory taste to this chili sauce. Sambal shrimp paste is usually made with ingredients such as red chili, cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, and a little sugar and salt. This sambal is very popular in Java and is often served with rice, lalapan, fried fish, or fried chicken.

2. Sambal Matah

Sambal matah comes from Bali and has its own uniqueness because the ingredients are served raw without being kneaded. This chili sauce consists of cayenne pepper, onion, garlic, lemongrass, lime leaves, and hot coconut oil drizzled on top. The taste of sambal matah is fresh and spicy, with a fragrant aroma of lemongrass and lime leaves. Sambal matah is very suitable to serve with grilled fish or Balinese fried chicken.

3. Sambal Bajak

Sambal bajak is a typical Central Javanese chili sauce that has a sweet and spicy taste. This chili sauce is made from chili, onion, garlic, tomato, brown sugar, and shrimp paste. All of these ingredients are stir-fried first to produce sambal with a richer and richer flavor. Sambal bajak is often used as a complement to fried rice or fried dishes such as tempeh and tofu.

4. Green Chili

Green chili sauce is a typical chili sauce of Minangkabau, West Sumatra, which is made from green chilies, green tomatoes, onions, and garlic. The fresh green color gives a unique impression and is different from the red chili sauce in general. This chili sauce has a slightly lighter and fresher spicy taste, and is often served with typical Padang dishes such as rendang, chicken pop, or curry.

5. Sambal Dabu-Dabu

Sambal dabu-dabu comes from Manado, North Sulawesi, and has a fresh taste with a touch of sour and spicy. The main ingredients of this chili sauce are cayenne pepper, tomato, onion, lime, and a little salt. All ingredients are mixed without kneading, similar to sambal matah, but sambal dabu-dabu has more of a fresh sour taste than lime. This chili sauce is very suitable to be enjoyed with seafood dishes, such as grilled fish or shrimp.

Conclusion

The five chili sauces above are part of the richness of Indonesian cuisine that adds flavor to dishes. Each region has its own unique chili sauce, but all of them are able to arouse the appetite and increase food enjoyment. Sambal is not only a complement, but also an important part of the food culture of the Indonesian people.

With this variety of chili sauce choices, we can see how rich and diverse Indonesian culinary is that always makes people addicted to its distinctive spicy taste.