Copycat Sambal Oelek: A Homemade Recipe for Spicy Red Chili Paste! (2024)

Sambal Oelek is a hot chili paste that makes a wonderful spicy condiment for most Asian or Asian-inspired recipes! This copycat recipe can be made with Thai chilis, Fresno chilis, or red serrano peppers depending on how hot you like it. It tastes just like the real thing, but without all of the preservatives!

Copycat Sambal Oelek Recipe

Sambal Oelek red chili paste can be used for anything from seasoning noodle dishes to adding heat to stir-fries! It's a great condiment to have on hand, especially if you enjoy cooking Asian cuisine.

You only need a few ingredients and about 5 minutes of time to make chili paste from scratch. Once you give it a taste, you'll be wondering why you didn't try it sooner!

What Is Sambal Oelek

Sambal Oelek is an Indonesian red chili paste made with raw hot red chili peppers, vinegar, and salt. The traditional recipe is really that simple and is typically made with very few ingredients.

The Sambal Oelek many of us are familiar with today comes in a jar that can be found on the Asian food aisle at the grocery store. These recipes sometimes contain additional ingredients and preservatives, that's why making it at home with fresh ingredients is the way to go!

🥘 Sambal Oelek Ingredients

Truthfully, you only need 3 ingredients to make chili paste from scratch. Some variations of Sambal Olek may include garlic, lime juice, and other ingredients (which I like to include from time to time), but the classic recipe is simply chilis, vinegar, and salt.

• Red Chilis - 1pound of red chilis. Thai chilis are traditional, or Fresno chilis, or red serranos.
• Rice Vinegar - 2tablespoons of rice vinegar.
• Salt - 1tablespoon ofsalt.
• Garlic Cloves (optional) - 2garlic cloves.
• Lime Juice (optional) - 1teaspoon of lime juice, fresh is best.

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Sambel Oelek

You don't have to cook a thing to make chili paste at home! You'll need either a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle, as well as a silicone spatula.

This recipe makes 2 cups of Sambal Oelek and you can add a little or a lot to your favorite dishes depending on how hot you like things!

1. Dice the chilis. Remove the stems from 1 pound of red chili peppers and dice them up seeds and all.
2. Blend. Add the diced chilis, 2 tablespoons of rice vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of salt(as well as 2 garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon of lime juice if using)to a food processor or blender. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides occasionally and pulse or blend until smooth paste forms.
3. Refrigerate. Transfer to an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator until needed.

Try adding this homemade chili paste to drunken noodles or pork belly ramen! It also adds a punch of flavor to chicken stir-fries and soups! Enjoy!

💭 Tips & Notes

• For the closest chili paste to Sambal Oelek, use Thai chilis. However, these are very hot! So if you don't like things super spicy, try using Fresno chilis, red serranos, or red jalapenos. You could also use cayenne peppers, but again, hot!
• To add a little sweetness to the heat, try mixing in ¾ tablespoons of palm sugar or brown sugar.
• For a richer depth of flavor, you can wok fry the chilis and/or garlic in a bit of oil for a few minutes before blending them.
• In place of a food processor or blender, a mortar and pestle can also be used to make this chili paste.

🥡 Storing

Keep your homemade Sambal Oelek in an airtight container in the fridge. The vinegar will keep it fresh for up to 3 months.

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❓ FAQ

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📖 Recipe Card

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