Sambal Bajak

Name: Sambal Bajak
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Indonesian
Ingredients: 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 10 oz red chilies, chopped; 4 oz shallots, sliced; 4 garlic cloves, peeled; 1 roma tomato, chopped; 1 tsp shrimp paste, toasted; 1/2 inch fresh galangal, sliced; 1 lemongrass stalk, bruised; 3 kaffir lime leaves; 1 tbsp palm sugar, chopped; 1 tsp tamarind paste; 1/2 tsp salt

A rich and savory cooked chili paste layered with fried aromatics, shrimp paste, and dark palm sugar.

35 minEasyServes 885 cal/serving

IndonesianSauceStovetopPescatarianLow CarbHalal-friendlyGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreePork-FreeLow-SodiumAlcohol-Free

Ingredients

1/4 cup vegetable oil
10 oz red chilies, chopped
4 oz shallots, sliced
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1 roma tomato, chopped
1 tsp shrimp paste, toasted
1/2 inch fresh galangal, sliced
1 lemongrass stalk, bruised
3 kaffir lime leaves
1 tbsp palm sugar, chopped
1 tsp tamarind paste
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1

Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2

Add 10 oz chopped red chilies, 4 oz sliced shallots, 4 peeled garlic cloves, 1 chopped roma tomato, and 1 tsp toasted shrimp paste to the skillet and fry for 5 minutes until softened.
3

Transfer the fried mixture to a food processor and pulse into a coarse paste.
4

Return the paste to the skillet and add 1/2 inch sliced fresh galangal, 1 bruised lemongrass stalk, and 3 kaffir lime leaves.
5

Stir in 1 tbsp chopped palm sugar, 1 tsp tamarind paste, and 1/2 tsp salt, then simmer on low heat for 10 minutes until dark and fragrant.

Questions

How long does Sambal Bajak keep?

Refrigerated in a sealed jar, it keeps four to five days. It also freezes flat in a bag for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Sambal Bajak?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

Ikan Bakar Grilled Spiced Fish main
Pisang Goreng Fried Banana Fritters starter
Masitas de Puerco main

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