Sambal Bajak - Indonesian Recipe

Ingredients:

• 8 red chillies, seeded and sliced
• 1 tsp dried shrimp paste (terasi), toasted
• 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 6 shallots, peeled and sliced
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbs oil
• 2 salam leaves
• 2 stalks lemon grass, bruised
• 1/2 in galangal (laos), peeled and crushed
• 4 tbs tamarin juice

Cooking Method:

1. Grind with a mortar and pestle or blend the first 7 ingredients very finely.
2. Heat the oil over medium high heat. Sauté the ground ingredients along with salam leaves, lemongrass and galangal. Stir it frequently until the mixture changes color and becomes very fragrant.
3. Lastly, pour the tamarind juice and let it simmer for about a minute and then leave to cool.
4. Remove salam leaves, lemongrass and galangal before serving.

Note: Keep it in the refrigerator for 5-6 days