Sambal oelek you say? I must admit to looking this one up. It is a spicy Southeast Asian chile sauce made from hot red chile peppers, salt and sometimes vinegar. Some versions can also contain onion, lemon or lime juice, garlic, or sugar.
Sambal is an Indonesian term that refers to a sauce made with chile peppers, and can include a variety of secondary ingredients. There are a lot of different types of sambals. Oelek, which is sometimes also referred to as olek or ulek, refers to the mortar and pestle used to make this type of sambal in Indonesian kitchens.
Compared to sriracha, sambal oelek is less acidic and lacks a strong presence of vinegar, so you can add heat to a dish without impacting the overall flavor. Sambal is also a slightly thicker, slightly chunkier sauce with chile pepper seeds included throughout. It packs more of a fiery punch, and if you're adding heat to your food, that's what you want!
Here is Susan's Chinese Cabbage with Caraway Seeds and Sambal Oelek:
Ingredients:
Sambal is an Indonesian term that refers to a sauce made with chile peppers, and can include a variety of secondary ingredients. There are a lot of different types of sambals. Oelek, which is sometimes also referred to as olek or ulek, refers to the mortar and pestle used to make this type of sambal in Indonesian kitchens.
Compared to sriracha, sambal oelek is less acidic and lacks a strong presence of vinegar, so you can add heat to a dish without impacting the overall flavor. Sambal is also a slightly thicker, slightly chunkier sauce with chile pepper seeds included throughout. It packs more of a fiery punch, and if you're adding heat to your food, that's what you want!
Here is Susan's Chinese Cabbage with Caraway Seeds and Sambal Oelek:
Ingredients:
- 12 cups Chinese cabbage
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 2 Tsp. caraway seeds
- 1 Tblsp. each sesame & canola oil
- 1 Tblsp. soy sauce
- 1/4 Tsp. Sambal Oelek
- Heat oil in a large skillet.
- Saute onions and cabbage until desired softness.
- Stir in caraway seeds, soy sauce and sambal oelek.
- Serve over soba noodles, topped with peanuts (lightly salted).
"This is tasty! Dave my husband thought it was hot enough but I would love a bit more heat!"
*Note: I have asked Big Y to see if they can get the Sambal Oelek in the store and they are getting back to me. Bishop's does not stock this. Susan said she may have purchased it in Stop & Shop.
*Note: I have asked Big Y to see if they can get the Sambal Oelek in the store and they are getting back to me. Bishop's does not stock this. Susan said she may have purchased it in Stop & Shop.
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