What is it?

An Indonesian uncooked chile paste made of ground red chiles, salt, and vinegar. Some versions may contain garlic or sugar. Unlike other Asian chile pastes such assrirachaorgochujang, sambal oelek has a chunky texture with seeds and bits of chile pulp; “oelek” refers to a mortar-and-pestle-like tool used to make the paste.

How to use:

Use sambal oelek to spice up stir-fries, curries, or just about anything else. Add it at the beginning of cooking if you want it to really permeate the dish, or at the end if you want more of a surface heat. Until you’re familiar with the heat level or the brand you’re using, start with a very small amount; you can always add more.

How to store:

Some brands may separate during storage, so stir them before using. Once opened, sambal oelek will last just about indefinitely if tightly covered and refrigerated.

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Recipes

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  Quick-Marinated Green Beans and Baby Corn

  Marinating green beans for just a short time at room temperature fills them with loads of great flavor. If you can’t find sambal oelek, use Sriracha instead.

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  Recipe

  Spicy and Sweet Chicken Thighs with Seared Scallion

  Deeply flavored chicken thighs are a perfect match with this gingery, chile-spiked soy marinade. If you like things really spicy, add another teaspoon of sambal oelek to the marinade.

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  Recipe

  Spicy Chicken Larb with Thai-Style Roasted Cabbage

  The unofficial national dish of Laos, larb is also popular in Thailand and exemplifies the bold flavors of the region. Usually served with fresh vegetables as a salad, it’s made…

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  Thai-Style Roasted Cabbage

  Peppery cabbage becomes delightfully sweet post roast. Paired with a Thai-inspired dressing, it makes a perfect side for steak and a great base for Spicy Chicken Larb.

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  Recipe

  Spicy Udon Noodles with Wilted Watercress

  Watercress curls and twirls along with the noodles in this full-flavored dish. The cooling cucumbers balance the hot sambal oelek in the sauce for a pleasant tingle.

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  Recipe

  Rotini with Ground Pork and Spicy Peanut Sauce

  You may not expect bright, Asian-inspired flavors to be paired with Italian rotini pasta, but it’s a great choice for holding onto the sauce.

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  Recipe

  Smoky Indonesian-Style Chicken Curry

  Aromatic and gently spicy, this slow-cooker curry is a soul-warming meal on a chilly evening. It’ll serve four with nothing else on the table, but it can stretch to eight…

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  Recipe

  Asian Barbecue Chicken Wings

  即使它不是一个游戏,你still got game in the kitchen when you make this finger-licking, umami-laden take on chicken wings. The recipe calls for slow cooking…

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  Recipe

  Chinese-Style Brussels Sprouts with Black Beans, Smoked Almonds, and Cilantro

  Spicy and salty and savory, these are not your mother’s Brussels sprouts. You may have to stop at the Asian market for a couple of the ingredients, but the recipe…