Sambal Oelek
If you've got fresh red chiles and shallot, you're most of the way to this Indonesian vegan: about 45 minutes of cooking across 4 steps. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 4 steps.
You'll mainly reach for saucepan and blender. At easy difficulty across 4 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, every ingredient resolved to a plant source.
What you'll need
Shopping list (2)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegan — no meat, fish, dairy, egg or honey, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: none of the major allergens we track from the ingredients listed.
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Trim the stems from the fresh red chiles and roughly chop them, leaving the seeds in for full heat, then peel the garlic and shallot.
- Briefly blanch the chiles, garlic and shallot in boiling water for about 2 minutes to soften them and take the edge off the raw bite, then drain well and let the steam dry off.
- Pound the drained chiles, garlic and shallot in a mortar, or pulse in a blender, to a coarse and slightly chunky paste rather than a smooth puree, keeping the texture rustic.
- Work in the salt, palm sugar, vinegar and lime juice until the sugar dissolves and the sambal tastes balanced between hot, salty and tangy, then transfer to a clean jar and keep refrigerated, using within about a week.
You'll use: Saucepan · Blender · Steamer
Ingredient substitutions
- Lime
- lemon
What to serve with Sambal Oelek
- Ayam Penyet Chicken
- Bakso Beef
- Bubur Ayam Breakfast
- Dadar Gulung Dessert
Tips & common questions
How long does Sambal Oelek take to make?
About 45 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 4 steps and 7 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of lime?
Try lemon. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Sambal Oelek vegan?
Every ingredient listed on this page resolved to a plant or mineral source in our ingredient ontology — no meat, fish, shellfish, dairy, egg or honey. Labels can still differ by brand, so check packaged items.
Related recipes
Original recipe — developed in-house by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Sambal Oelek is an original Indonesian recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Sambal ulek.jpg (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.