Need a flavor boost? Do the Sambal!
>> Thursday, March 25, 2010
Say the word "sambal" (pronounced as sum-bahl) and this would send my taste buds into a frenzy and mouth salivating, longing, yearning just for a lick of that spicy-sweet-salty symphony of flavors!
Sambal is a spicy condiment, a cross between a sauce and chutney - a must-have staple in South-east Asian, namely Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai and Philippine cuisines. Sambal adds that zesty flavor to any dish, spice it up, give it that little boost or kick, if you will. Back in Malaysia, sambal was a usual accompaniment in our everyday meals and in recent years, with the increasing popularity of ethnic and fusion cuisines Stateside, sambal has slowly made its way into local restaurants in California. Most restaurants here have started offering sambal as a condiment, although I personally find the sambal served here are a far cry from the flavorful Malaysian sambal that I grew up on.
