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Sambal matah
Raw shallot and lemongrass relish
Sambal matah: Bali's raw shallot, lemongrass and lime-leaf relish dressed with hot coconut oil
Matah means raw in Balinese, and this sambal is nothing more than finely sliced shallots, chillies, lemongrass and lime leaf, squeezed with lime and dressed with hot coconut oil. It is the fresh, sharp counterpart to grilled tempeh, tofu, corn fritters and plain rice in warungs across Bali. Village cooks rub in a little toasted shrimp paste; this vegetarian version gets its savoury edge from salt and a touch of sugar. Chef's tip: squeeze the salted shallots with your fingers before adding the oil; they soften and release juice that carries the flavour.
- Total time
- 17 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 8 shallotsthinly sliced
- 5 bird's eye chilliesthinly sliced
- 2 stalks lemongrasstender inner part only, very finely sliced
- 4 makrut lime leavesmidrib removed, cut into threads
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 limejuiced
- 4 tbsp coconut oil
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put 8 shallots, 5 bird's eye chillies, 2 stalks lemongrass and 4 makrut lime leaves in a heatproof bowl. Sprinkle with ¾ tsp salt and ½ tsp sugar and squeeze with clean fingers for 1 minute, until the shallots soften and look wet.
3 minStep 2: Stir in 1 lime. Common mistake: using thick-cut lemongrass from the woody outer layers; it stays chewy. Slice only the pale, tender core as thin as paper.
2 minStep 3: Heat 4 tbsp coconut oil in a small pan over a medium-high heat until it shimmers and a slice of shallot sizzles at once. Pour it over the bowl; it should crackle and smell of lemongrass straight away. Stir and serve within a few hours.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 6 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sambal matah take?
- About 17 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of shallots?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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