How to Make Sambal Bajak – An Exotic Indonesian Appetizer

Sambal is described as hot relish made with vegetables or fruit and spices. In oriental culinary, especially in Indonesia, sambal is classified as appetizer. There are many kinds of sambal, sambal bajak is one of the most popular among others. Usually, sambal is freshly made before serving. You can store the remainder in your refrigerator and fry it before eating.

Chili is the main ingredient to make sambal. Choose only the fresh chili one. Other ingredients are terasi (condiment made from pounded and fermented shrimp or small fish), sugar, and salt.

The ingredients you need to make sambal bajak are:

1. Red chili (the long one), 200 grams, remove the stalk.
2. Small chili (well known as cabai rawit in Indonesia), 25 pieces, remove the stalk.
3. Onion, 25 pieces.
4. Garlic, 12 pieces.
5. Terasi, 1 table spoon.
6. Salt, 1 tea spoon.
7. Cane sugar, 1 table spoon.
8. Frying oil, 50 cc.

Follow these steps to make sambal bajak:

1. Wash the red chili, small chili, onion, and garlic. Slice them into pieces.
2. Put the red chili in a blender; stir it with medium speed for 1 minute. Add the small chili, onion, and garlic. Stir them for 1 minute respectively.
3. Add salt, terasi, and cane sugar. Stir together until they are fine.
4. In the frying pan, heat the frying oil. Put the dough into it, and fry it until its color changed into dark red.
5. Put it into another container, wait until it gets colder.
6. Sambal bajak is ready to be served.

If you wish to make a small amount of sambal bajak, you can use mortar and pestle instead of blender. Sambal bajak is usually consumed with cooked rice. Put it in a small bowl, dip your fried chicken into it, and enjoy its pleasant taste.