Balado - Indonesian Chili Sambal (sauce)

As long as I remember... balado is the most known "chili sauce" in Indonesia. That because this kind of chili sauce can be made almost with everything or even for a dipping sauce.
Balado can be cook together with fried or boiled egg, fried chicken, tofu, seafood and vegetables. So, this type of sambal is the most "helpful" dish for every housewife in Indonesia, because with only one sauce we can prepare a different kind of dish everyday! 
What more helpful than that?! :)


This chili sauce recipe is pass down from generation to generation in Indonesia. Sometimes the daughter will add more spice of maybe the grand daughter will less some spice but the most basic ingredients for balado sambal is shallot, chili, tomato puree together and saute with sugar and salt to taste. You can add a hint of asian spice if you prefer your balado sambal have a fragrant like mine, or maybe you can add tamarind or even shrimp paste to make a different kind of taste.



Ingredients :

• 8 medium Shallot (indonesian shallot is smaller, so use a half of it if you don't use asian shallot)
• 2 cloves Garlic 
• 150 gram Red Chili, deseed
• 5 pcs Green Chili Padi (optional, if you prefer your balado sambal more spicy you can add more or less)
• 1 large Tomato, cut into cubes
• 2 pcs Kaffir lime Leaves
• 2 pcs lemongrass (only use 5cm from the bottom of lemongrass)
• 2 cm turmeric, peeled
• 2-3 tbsp Canola Oil
• 3 tbsp Water
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt

Directions :

• Puree : shallot, red chili, green chili padi, garlic, turmeric with a mortar or blender until all the ingredients become a thick paste. 

• Smash half part of lemongrass (the bottom part) to release more lemongrass fragrant when it cookes.

• In a pan, canola oil, stir in the chili paste, stir for a minute.
• Add the kaffir lime leaves and the lemongrass, saute until it's fragrant.

• Stir in tomato that have cut into cubes, add water, sugar and salt.
• Stir continuously in low medium heat until the tomato is disintegrated and all the water is run out.
• Taste, you can add more sugar or salt if necessary.
• Remove from heat.
• Enjoy! ;) 

Balado sambal have a rich taste of flavor.

A slightly sour taste from the fresh tomato, a sweet one from sugar and a little kick of hot from red chilli and a fragrant of kaffir lime leaves & lemongrass.

You can experience with a different taste you prefer to add more of asian spice herb, as long as the original and basic ingredients is not less.

On the next post I'll share one recipe based from this sambal-sauce :)

When you have try this balado sambal, then you will know why this simple sauce become one of the best known sambal-sauce at Indonesian kitchen ;)

Stay Healthy & Loves Your Kitchen More! ;) 

This post is my october entry for Indonesian Food party at Bonita's Cooking and Bento Wonderland.

Difficulty : Easy

Cooking Time : < 45 minutes (including the preparation)

Makes : 1 serving sambal sauce