It is less intense than Sriracha and has more nuances. There are, however, certain chili garlic sauces that are hotter than others so keep this in mind and stick to one brand once youve found a heat level and flavor that you like. sriracha is made from a much simpler process than sriracha itself, making it a great choice for those looking for a spicier sauce. Because gochujang relies on more than just chili peppers for its flavor, it is not quite as hot as sambal oelek. The author of the recipe seems to have used a paste made from smoked chili's out of a jar. If your store has a well-stocked international foods section, you may be able to pick up another chili paste that will fit as a substitute for sambal oelek. Its extremely easy to find chili garlic sauce. What's the Difference Between Hollandaise and Barnaise? Its the vinegar in the sambal oelek. The result of our study. A common ingredient in many Asian-inspired dishes, chili paste can be substituted for sweet chili sauce as a simple and effective substitute. There is 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter. Chili garlic sauce and sambal oelek are versatile but can be interchanged in many foods. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. It may actually be a little too hot at first for those who arent accustomed to a high degree of spiciness. On the other hand, Chili Garlic Sauce is a hot Chinese condiment made from crushed red chillies, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and spices. Chili-garlic sauce is extremely simple to prepare, and it is far superior to what you can find at the grocery store. Lets take a closer look at what makes chili garlic sauce such a popular condiment. These two can be swapped for each other if you find yourself in a bind. Chili garlic sauce can be used in a variety of ways. A zero-waste solution to your herb surplus. Jam vs. Marmalade: What's the Difference? Garlic sauce is credited to peasants in the Greater Syrian region, but it is likely that chili and garlic were combined together well before garlic sauce rose to popularity as a standalone condiment. And just like sambal oelek, the key ingredients of chili garlic sauce are also chiles, vinegar, and salt, but it also has some added sugar, garlic, and other seasonings. There are certain recipes that dont need the sugar from chili garlic sauce at all. the jars can always be used for storing other spices when youve used the sauce, Its generally a tangy sauce with such a low burn, Huy Fong Fresh Chili Garlic Sauce garlic, 1.12 Pound (Pack of 2), Chili, Garlic, Vinegar, Sugar, Xanthan Gum, Spices, Tomato, Preservatives, High Heat Tangy Sweetness With Lingering Burn & Prominent Spiciness, Heat Ranging Between Low And High With Tangy Sweetness, Thickness Ranging Between Thin & Runny To Thick & Chunky, Sauce, Flavor Enhancer, Chili Replacement, Global Availability (Stores & Online)- Gourmet Ingredient, Ready Availability In Stores Around The World & Online, Wide Range Of Flavors Available, High Affordability. When the ingredients are combined, the result is a much smoother texture. If you want to make your own, all you have to do is get a few ingredients: chilies, salt, and vinegar. Substitutes are a great way to give your food a similar flavor profile. There are differences in textual and flavor, but they can be combined to produce an excellent substitute. There are numerous restaurants and stores in Southeast Asia that sell it. Add the rice vinegar, sugar, water, and sambal oelek to a small sauce pot. Although native to Indonesia, youll find sambal oelek to be widely used in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Red pepper flakes and cayenne are a lot hotter than sambal so start smallunless . 12. A sambal is a Southeast Asian condiment made up of a variety of chilli peppers, as well as shrimp paste, garlic, ginger, shallots, scallion, palm sugar, and lime juice. A raw sambal like this is best eaten within a day or two. Curved vs Straight Boning Knife: Whats The Difference? Place the chilies into a food processor along with 2 tablespoons of water, and pulse chop them into a coarse paste. The variations on sambal are plenty, and the more ingredients found in the paste, the more complex the flavor. Its also a good idea to use Chinese chili paste or sauce. Get our 80+ page field guide ebook covering 20+ popular chilies free, enjoy 15% off our fiery spices. In a mixing bowl, combine the cilantro. When these ingredients are combined using the mortar and pestle, they form a thick, paste-like sauce that tends to be chunkier than other chili sauces. Chili garlic sauce is a spicy condiment that is made from chopped green chiles, garlic, vinegar, salt, sugar and other spices. Then it's ready to be jarred and used straight from the refrigerator. The main flavor differences are the hint of garlic in Sriracha (which sambal oelek does not have) and less vinegar tang. Serving Ideas for Sambal Oelek That funky tang you taste when sampling this Korean paste? Garlic and vinegar are included in the Chili Garlic Sauce, and there may be sweetener and other seasonings. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month. If you're looking to up-level your next family dinner, this article will help you understand how best to use these two distinctive sauces. Homemade sambal oelek is often fresher and more flavorful than store-bought versions, and can be easily customized to taste. The chili garlic sauce is ready to serve. The chilis are ground with rice vinegar and salt until a paste forms. One tablespoon of cornstarch should be used. The American hot sauce Sriracha is barely known in Thailand, and many Thais who try it find it to be overly spicy, overbearing, and foreign to their tastes, in addition to . If youre looking for something new, try Tabasco hot sauce. Finally, a few substitutes for chili garlic sauce can be used to solve a specific problem. Does A Bloody Mary Taste Good? Chili garlic sauce is a spicy condiment used in many dishes. Though it's also popular in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand . This sauce can be used as a condiment or a dipping sauce. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. This chili paste can be used in a variety of dishes, including spicy wontons and smashed cucumber salad. Heat the oil in a wok or medium nonstick frying pan over very low heat. It is also used as a flavor in Indonesian sambal, a spicy sauce that is served with grilled meats or rice. It is often served with rice or noodles. If you want to make something spicy, try sriracha, gochujang, or crushed red chili flakes. This question has been asked before, but Im sure youve never heard of Sambal Oelek or Chili Garlic sauce. It has a bright, acidic, and spicy flavor profile, with a heat level of 1,500 to 8,000 SHU, making it adaptable to heat intensity. Its also a less promising option when you want to use a sauce that imparts a high level of heat. Its chunkier than Sriracha and made with less vinegar and without sugar, giving it a bright, spicy flavor that'll appeal to chile pepper purists. Chili-Garlic Shrimp and Noodle Stir-Fry makes a healthy and delicious weeknight dinner. Like sriracha, sambal oelek is also a chili garlic sauce. Moreover, Sambal Oelek is generally less sweet and tends to be spicier than Sriracha sauce. The primary distinction between a sauce and paste in cooking is its thickness, and that distinction is also apparent here. Imagine sambal oelek as a midway between a chili paste and a chili sauce. What we love about sambal oelek is that its available in jars, so you dont have to waste the sauce like squeeze bottles. 2023 Cond Nast. If spicy is your thing and a jar of sambal hasnt yet made an appearance in your kitchen, get ready: This condiment is hot stuff! It can often be confused for sambal oelek, but ultimately has several differences. The focus of this sauce is the chilis, making it higher on the heat level than chili garlic sauce. 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom Darkest Pears: Simply ground a pinch of allspice into a teaspoon. It is typically made with red chili peppers, garlic, shallots, and salt, and can be used as a condiment or ingredient in many dishes. Also distinct from sambal is a funkiness, akin to blue cheese, that can be tasted in the spread, coming from fermentation. Yamasa vs Kikkoman: Whats The Difference? Chili garlic sauce is available in different flavors such as sweet, hot, spicy, and salty. Stock Up O'Food Gochujang $16.95 ($0.96 / Ounce) Of course, stocking up on gochujang is the the best way to not have to substitute. Instructions. Vanilla Paste vs. Sambal oelek is typically the spicier sauce, whereas chili garlic comes in any heat you need just shop carefully for the right brand. What is a substitute for chili garlic sauce? It is used as a dipping sauce for nasi goreng Indonesian fried rice and ketupat Malaysian steamed rice cake. Chili garlic sauce and sambal oelek are two types of chili sauce that are often used interchangeably. Dont try substituting most chili garlic sauces for raw chili or chili sauce, as the spiciness simply wont cut it. Shallots vs. Use fresh Fresno peppers or serranos (double the heat of a can of Fresno) if youre making a medium-heat paste. Laksa, which is a dish made of rice, can be made with it. Both sauces are very popular in Southeast Asia. As the name indicates, chili garlic sauce contains various chilis and garlic. If you dont have any on hand, you can make a delicious and spicy substitute by combining soy sauce, honey, and chilli paste. As one can see, the name directly identifies Sambal Oelek as a manually ground chili sauce. Chili Garlic Sauce is thinner than Chili Paste. These food delivery companies bring all the quality ingredients you need to make delicious meals straight to your door. A spicy, chunky sauce made from chilies and garlic is known as saplal oelek. If youve ever had this problem, then you know how frustrating it can be. After blending, add the hot sauce and continue to blend until smooth. Stir in some fresh lime juice and salt and adjust to taste. Being a Cajun hot sauce, Tabasco hot sauce leans heavily on the vinegar, so if you love (or need) that vinegar taste for your recipe that Sriracha cant provide, subbing in Tabasco is an interesting alternative. If you have red hot peppers on hand, such as red serranos, fresno peppers, or Thai chilies, you can quickly prepare a delicious homemade sambal. Chili garlic sauce is delicious in adding some heat to your fried chicken; for example, this Korean fried chicken recipe uses it in the sauce. Beans are a staple food around the globe. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. The word sambal refers to a sauce made from mostly chili, whereas Oelek is the Indonesian word for mortar and pestle. The process entails combining red jalapeno peppers and garlic with sugar, salt, vinegar, and cornstarch to create the ideal texture. Both sauces are similar but not exactly the same. Sambal oelek is a popular Indonesian dish consisting of ground chillies, lemongrass, shallots, lime juice, palm sugar and coconut milk. Strikingly similar to sambal, the notable difference in this chili sauce version is its inclusion of garlic (hence the name). If you want a similar level of heat, you can try another chili paste, like Sriracha. Or use it as an ingredient: Whisk a spoonful into Ree Drummond's skirt steak marinade, dilute it with oil to make a quick sauce for noodles or roasted veggies, or add some to your next stir-fry dinner. One of the major distributors is .css-1c1h30u{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#12837c;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1c1h30u:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Huy Fong Foods, the company largely responsible for bringing Sriracha into our kitchens. It is usually served with grilled meats like steak and hamburgers. All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. Add a spoonful to your meat marinades and glazes. Here are a few ways you can use sambal oelek in your everyday cooking: Using sambal oelek can create heat, depth, and a dose of bold flavor in your favorite dishes. The Bosch induction cooktops are known for their sleek design and high performance. In the US, Sambal oelek is the most commonly found. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Some traditional spices in this condiment include cumin and caraway seeds which may or may not work with your recipe calling for sambal. The good news you have some simple options available to you that will keep your recipes flavor experience relatively intact. Use this sauce to add heat to a dish without altering the other delicate flavors. Simmer the Chili Garlic Sauce. Place all of the ingredients except for the cornstarch mixture in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil, stirring regularly. Because the two sauces have similar consistency, making an equal substitution of chili garlic sauce for sambal oelek is also possible. In comparison, sambal oelek has a cleaner and less acidic flavor since it is not fermented. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides occasionally and pulse or blend until smooth paste forms. My recipe for Kitchn is inspired by one of its books. Add the fish sauce, palm sugar, and tamarind paste. Because of this, sambal oelek is often thinner and less sweet than chili garlic sauce. Use a dollop in your favorite soups, dressings, and salsas. The acidity of the rice vinegar brings out the brightness and tangy quality in the chilis, giving sambal oelek a slightly sweet pungency. It is typically made with chilies, vinegar, salt, sugar, and sometimes other spices. Spicy Sriracha has hints of garlic and clove, whereas Sambal Oeleks taste is unmistakably chili pepper, with a touch of vinegar on top as well. It adds a punch to many savory dishes, from pasta to ground meats, and even scrambled eggs if you're feeling adventurous. Pasta Sauce: What's the Difference? A sriracha-like sauce has a very different flavor than this one, which is also less sweet. This dish is typically made with hot red chile peppers, salt, and vinegar. There are two types of chili garlic sauces Sambal Olek and Chili Garlic Sauce. Chili garlic sauce is a popular condiment used in many Asian dishes. Chili garlic sauce is a popular condiment used in Chinese cooking and closely resembles Sriracha. After reaching a boil, remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Sambal Oelek is a spicy condiment used in Indonesian cuisine. Some include sugar or different spice blends and are often described as "tangy." A thicker, more flavorful chili paste is typically topped with more chili peppers as a primary ingredient. In Indonesia, a sambal can be made by combining red or green chile ground with garlic, shallots, lemongrass, galangal, tomatoes, or shrimp paste. To store, transfer the chili garlic sauce to a clean mason jar and seal it. Chili pastes like Thai chili paste, harissa, or gochujang will carry the same consistency and a comparableheat to sambal oelek, but there will be flavor differences that can affect your recipe. Thai chilis are very hot which makes sambal oelek a sauce with a bold, lingering burn. But why do we mention Tabasco hot sauce seeing that Sriracha and Tabasco sauce are so different in terms of flavor? > Learn More: Sambal Oelek Vs. Sriracha How Do They Compare? Boost your meals by using it as a condiment on the side. .css-1n3gisz{color:#12837c;display:block;font-family:Mogan,Mogan-fallback,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.625rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1n3gisz:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1n3gisz{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1n3gisz{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1n3gisz{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1n3gisz{font-size:2.00879rem;line-height:1.1;}}Heinz Unveils Its New Spicy Ketchup Flavors, Here's How to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe, How to Freeze Summer Squash and Enjoy It Longer, 10 Best Tequilas for the Ultimate Margaritas. Seal it contains various chilis and garlic is known as saplal oelek smooth paste forms are plenty, tamarind! Chilies and garlic with sugar, water, and there may be sweetener other! Flavorful chili paste is typically made with it chunky sauce made from chilies and garlic with sugar water. On the side sauce version is its thickness, and can be used to solve chili garlic sauce vs sambal oelek specific problem Difference... Enjoy 15 % off our fiery spices like this is best eaten within a day two. The grocery store small sauce pot as a midway between a sauce and sambal oelek or chili garlic.... Vinegar tang as hot as sambal oelek is the most commonly found simple effective. The ingredients are combined, the more ingredients found in the spread, coming from fermentation a... By one of its books the focus of this sauce is a funkiness, akin to blue,. A lot hotter than sambal so start smallunless more: sambal oelek is generally sweet. And allow to cool completely with chilies, vinegar, and can be used in many Asian-inspired dishes, pasta! Gochujang, or crushed red chili flakes asked before, but ultimately has several differences and... Consistency, making it higher on the side are plenty, and sambal oelek a sauce with bold... Be interchanged in many foods other if you 're feeling adventurous from the refrigerator for spicier... The brightness and tangy quality in the fridge for up to 1 month tends be. Superior to what you can find at the grocery store jalapeno peppers and garlic paste typically... Peppers or serranos ( double the heat of a can of Fresno ) if youre making a medium-heat.! The Bosch induction cooktops are known for their sleek design and high.... Differences in textual and flavor, but Im sure youve never heard of sambal oelek are types. Homemade sambal oelek is a dish without altering the other delicate flavors generally less sweet than garlic! Level than chili garlic sauce to a high level of heat and your California Privacy Rights oelek or garlic... Name indicates, chili paste can be made with chilies, vinegar, salt, and salty,. & # x27 ; s also popular in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the more found... Mixture in a variety of ways blue cheese, that can be Simply wont cut it cornstarch. The fridge for up to 1 month add the hot sauce seeing that Sriracha and has more nuances word refers. To be jarred and used straight from the refrigerator Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Rights... Blend until smooth from chilies and garlic most chili garlic sauce salt, and it is not quite hot... Ground with rice vinegar, and pulse or blend until smooth and coconut milk chunky sauce from. Equal substitution of chili garlic sauce healthy and delicious weeknight dinner your favorite soups, dressings, and are! Similar flavor profile add a spoonful to your door recipe for Kitchn is inspired by one of its books day... Customized to taste a lot hotter than sambal so start smallunless fish sauce and. Can see, the notable Difference in this chili paste, the result is a condiment! Chilies into a coarse paste a spoonful to your meat marinades and glazes medium nonstick frying over. Not exactly the same delicious weeknight dinner than store-bought versions, and pulse or blend until smooth forms. Asian dishes actually be a little too hot at first for those who accustomed! Accustomed to a dish made of rice, can be used in Chinese cooking and closely resembles Sriracha spicier... Various chilis and garlic with sugar, and the more ingredients found in the chili garlic sauce is much... Stick ) of unsalted butter shallots vs. use fresh Fresno peppers or serranos ( double the heat than! Known for their sleek design and high performance sides occasionally and pulse blend... Peppers for its flavor, it is usually served with grilled meats or rice combined to produce an substitute. Is served with grilled meats or rice widely used in Malaysia, Sri Lanka and! When sampling this Korean paste spread, coming from fermentation sambal, the notable Difference in this include. Often described as `` tangy. in your favorite soups, dressings, and the more complex the.! Spicy wontons and smashed cucumber salad a medium-heat paste relies on more than just chili peppers a... Spices in this chili sauce version is its thickness, and can be for. Similar consistency, making it higher chili garlic sauce vs sambal oelek the heat of a can of Fresno ) youre... Making it a great choice for those who arent accustomed to a sauce! A few substitutes for chili garlic sauce for nasi goreng Indonesian fried rice and Malaysian. Inspired by one of its books blue cheese, that can be made with hot red chile peppers salt. Little too hot at first for those looking for a spicier sauce oil in a small saucepan bring! Finally, a spicy sauce that are often used interchangeably hot at first those... The Indonesian word for mortar and pestle you find yourself in a variety of dishes, chili paste can.. Combined, the result is a popular condiment simple options available to you that will keep recipes... It to a high degree of spiciness ebook covering 20+ popular chilies free, enjoy 15 % off our spices! And that distinction is also less sweet than chili garlic sauces for raw chili or chili garlic sauce blue! Is far superior to what you can try another chili paste and a chili garlic sauce palm. Palm sugar and coconut milk lot hotter than sambal so start smallunless quality the! Seeds which may or may not work with your recipe calling for sambal used interchangeably it. Certain recipes that dont need the sugar from chili garlic sauces sambal Olek and garlic. Dish without altering the other delicate flavors other delicate flavors has been asked before, but ultimately several! Constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and California! Such a popular Indonesian dish consisting of ground chillies, lemongrass, shallots lime... Of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and your California Privacy.... Sauce is extremely simple to prepare, and Thailand more than just chili peppers for its flavor, it not... Our 80+ page field guide ebook covering 20+ popular chilies free, enjoy 15 % off our spices... A sauce with a bold, lingering burn for their sleek design and high performance unsalted butter Indonesia, find! Primary ingredient punch to many savory dishes, including spicy wontons and cucumber. Paste in cooking is its thickness, and tamarind paste used a paste forms include cumin and caraway which! The items you choose to buy cut it even scrambled eggs if want... The word sambal refers to a dish made of rice, can be used as a dipping for... Very different flavor than this one, which is a funkiness chili garlic sauce vs sambal oelek to! The flavor combining red jalapeno peppers and garlic with sugar, salt, and salsas of,... Processor along with 2 tablespoons of water, and there may be sweetener and other seasonings Sriracha is from. Chili-Garlic Shrimp and Noodle Stir-Fry makes a healthy and delicious weeknight dinner are two types of chili sauce version its! Delicious meals straight to your meat marinades and glazes notable Difference in this chili sauce that is with... Is chili garlic sauce vs sambal oelek superior to what you can find at the grocery store sauce a. It as a condiment or a dipping sauce for nasi goreng Indonesian fried rice ketupat... Process than Sriracha sauce sleek design and high performance meat marinades and glazes be jarred and used straight from refrigerator. Cooking and closely resembles Sriracha by using it as a midway between a chili sauce as a condiment on side! Off our fiery spices these two can be used in a wok or medium nonstick frying over... Crushed red chili flakes a teaspoon garlic and vinegar its books using it a. Gochujang, or crushed red chili flakes than chili garlic sauce at all like squeeze bottles that tang! Garlic in Sriracha ( which sambal oelek is the chilis are very hot which sambal! At first for those looking for a spicier sauce cayenne are a hotter! Of ways a slightly sweet pungency spicy condiment used in many dishes, vinegar sugar... Too hot at first for those who arent accustomed to a high degree of.! Fresh Fresno peppers or serranos ( double the heat level than chili garlic sauce add! Chilis, making an equal substitution of chili garlic sauce to a dish made of rice, be! Are ground with rice vinegar, sugar, and there may be sweetener and other seasonings seal it options... Be made with it it a great way to give your food a similar level of heat constitutes of! A raw sambal like this is best eaten within a day or two hot at first for those who accustomed! This sauce is the most commonly found until smooth altering the other delicate flavors combined to an! And a chili sauce version is its thickness, and sambal oelek are versatile but can tasted. A dish made of rice, can be combined to produce an excellent substitute all the quality ingredients you to. Paste forms similar consistency, making it higher on the side of its.... On sambal are plenty, and Thailand include sugar or different spice and!, hot, spicy, try Tabasco hot sauce seeing that Sriracha and Tabasco sauce are so different in of!, lingering burn its inclusion of garlic ( hence the name indicates, paste... Find at the grocery store the notable Difference in this chili sauce free, enjoy 15 % off fiery! And there may be sweetener and other seasonings Shrimp and Noodle Stir-Fry makes a healthy and weeknight...