In southeast Asia, traditional foods pack a punch of different types of flavors- all in one dish. In Asian cuisine as a whole, finding spicy sauces made up of many chilies is not rare. If you are a fan of Asian food and its inherent spiciness, you’ll fall in love with the Indonesian Sambal Terasi sauce. It is such a pungent and fiery version of sambal that perfectly embodies Indonesian cuisine. It is not for the faint of heart and is your go-to sauce if you are a huge fan of spicy food. The name ‘Sambal’ goes for all Indonesian sauces. This particular sauce has a paste-like texture and the main ingredients are nothing other than a variety of chilies. It’s one of the spiciest sauces to exist in Indonesia and Asian food. There can be a few variations due to using different chilies and vegetables. The Indonesian culture and cuisine have high regard for severely spicy and hot sauces. Since there are people of different ethnic backgrounds in Indonesia, you’ll find a variety of sauces, including variations for the Sambal Terasi. And for the food, the Sambal Terasi is used along with a variety of different cuisines, ranging from Indian to Chinese to Japanese food. The combination of various vegetables produces a mix of neutral tastes. It also balances the heavy salty flavor produced by shrimp. The punch of umami flavor makes it perfect to be used while cooking dishes in which you want a ‘fishy’ taste. But that’s not all, as you can use this spicy sauce as a dipping to go with any dish. Grind or process the ingredients. Add the cooked shrimp paste to a pestle and mortar or a small food processor, along with the garlic, salt, sugar and bird’s eye peppers. Grind or process until smooth. Stir in the citrus. Stir in the lime juice or lemon juice and use immediately. In Indonesia, you can even purchase it in the raw state from traditional stores instead of supermarkets. Remember that it’s easy to make your own Sambal Terasi if you’re having trouble finding it. You can even cook the Sambal Terasi that you buy, but it’s best when it is used as a dipping sauce with your favorite dishes. You can add all sorts of vegetables to your Sambal Terasi, but it’s best to stick to the traditional ingredients mentioned before. Don’t forget to add the shrimp, they make up the core umami taste of Sambal Terasi!
Indonesian Cooking: Satays, Sambals and More: Homestyle Recipes with the True Taste of Indonesia, by Dina Yuen (affiliate link, my friends!) The Food of Indonesia: Delicious Recipes from Bali, Java and the Spice Islands, by Heinz von Holzen & Lother Arsana (affiliate link, my friends!)
