Sambal Terasi (Indonesian Shrimp Paste Chili Sambal)
In short: A pounded chili sambal of fried red chilies, shallots, tomato and toasted shrimp paste, brightened with lime juice and palm sugar. It takes about 22 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 22 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 65 kcal
Sambal terasi is the everyday chili sauce of Indonesian tables, made fresh by pounding fried chilies, shallots, garlic and tomato with toasted shrimp paste. The paste gives it a deep, savory, almost smoky edge, while palm sugar and lime juice round it out. It goes with fried chicken, grilled fish, tempeh, rice, and just about everything else. Everyone's family version is a little different.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the whole chilies, shallots, garlic and tomato.
- Fry for 6 to 8 minutes, turning, until everything is soft and lightly charred in spots. Move to a plate.
- In the same pan, toast the shrimp paste for 1 minute, pressing it flat, until it smells nutty. Open a window, because the aroma is strong.
- Pound the fried vegetables and the shrimp paste in a mortar into a coarse paste. A food processor with short pulses works too.
- Stir in the sugar, salt and lime juice. Taste and adjust the heat, salt and sourness.
- Serve fresh in a small dish, or store in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Tips
- Toast the shrimp paste well, because raw terasi smells harsh and tastes bitter. Buy it in a block and slice off what you need.
- Remove the chili seeds for a gentler sambal. Skip the shrimp paste and add a pinch of mushroom powder and extra salt for a vegetarian version.
Questions and answers
Can I freeze sambal terasi?
Yes. Freeze it in an ice cube tray, then bag the cubes. They keep for 3 months and thaw in minutes, so you can add a cube to a stir-fry.
What does terasi taste like?
Terasi is a fermented shrimp paste with a strong, salty, savory flavor. Once toasted it mellows into something deeply savory rather than fishy.
How hot is sambal terasi?
It depends on the chilies. With 5 bird's eye chilies it is quite hot. Use only long red chilies for a mild version.
How long does it take to make Sambal Terasi (Indonesian Shrimp Paste Chili Sambal)?
About 22 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sambal Terasi (Indonesian Shrimp Paste Chili Sambal)?
About 65 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 65 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
