Sambal Oelek

Sambal Oelek is a fiery, fresh-tasting ground red chili paste from Indonesian and Malaysian cooking, stocked for restaurant kitchens, caterers and serious home cooks. With bright heat and a touch of vinegar tang, it's a versatile kitchen staple for stir-fries, noodle dishes, marinades, dipping sauces, soups, and spicy mayo.

How chefs use sambal oelek

Because sambal oelek is ground chili first and seasoning second, it adds heat without changing the character of a dish the way a garlic-heavy chili sauce does. Stir a spoonful into fried rice, pad kee mao or a soy-ginger stir-fry at the end of cooking; whisk it with lime juice, fish sauce and a little sugar for a dipping sauce; or blend it into mayonnaise for spicy aioli on sandwiches and poke bowls. It also works as a marinade base for chicken thighs and shrimp, and a small amount brightens pho, ramen and laksa broths at the table.

Pairs well with

Keep it next to Kewpie mayonnaise for spicy mayo, Hondashi for quick dashi-based noodle broths, and harissa paste when a recipe calls for a smokier North African heat. Browse the rest of our in-stock pantry in Warehouse Items.

Ships nationwide from our Brockton, MA warehouse; free local delivery on qualifying orders across Eastern Massachusetts and New England, with warehouse pickup available.