| Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 25 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 270 | 15g | 6g | 22g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 12g | 4g | 10g | 0.45g |
Why I Love Malaysian Vegetarian Sambal
Being from New Jersey, Italian-American cuisine has always been near and dear to my heart. From spaghetti to meatballs, dishes inspired by my Italian grandparents never fail to incite nostalgia. But today, I invite you to expand your culinary horizons with a recipe that stays true to my belief that cooking is all about creating a soul-satisfying experience. If you want to add a contemporary touch to your traditional dining table, look no further! Here we will dip our spoons into the world of flavorful Malaysian cuisine with this Vegetarian Sambal.
A Global Merge Of Flavors in Your Plate
This recipe is a delicious harmony of vibrant Malaysian spices and healthy greens, seated in your plate waiting to be explored. It’s beautifully enriched with the goodness of firm tofu and the crunch of green beans, beautifully married with a plethora of spices. If you’re familiar with Nasi Lemak, a popular coconut rice dish in Malaysia, this Vegetarian Sambal is the perfect condiment to accompany it. With its unique taste, it’s certain to bring an exciting edge to your usual meal plan.
Inspired By The Masters
This Vegetarian Sambal recipe is one of many I’ve embraced in my quest to bring a wide arrangement of flavors to my table. This particular dish was inspired by the renowned Malaysian Chef Bee Satongun who emphasizes nourishing vegetarian dishes. It’s the kind of recipe that allows me to blend the authentic Italian culinary roots with a taste from the far-off lands of Malaysia.
The Dynamic Nature of Vegetarian Sambal
This recipe isn’t just an exciting addition to your cookbook; it’s also highly versatile. I love putting it on the side of a hearty pasta dish or using it as a delicious base for a stir-fry. You can even spread it on toasted bread for a quick but flavourful snack. Its versatility makes this Vegetarian Sambal a winning recipe worth trying out in your own kitchen.
Whether you’re an adventurous foodie looking to try something new and vibrant or a vegetarian who craves for a hearty concoction, this Vegetarian Sambal promises a tantalising journey for your taste buds. Let’s bring this Malaysian magnificence to your plate!
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup dried chilies
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 6 garlic cloves, peeled
- 3 lemongrass stalks, white part only
- 2 inches galangal (fresh), peeled
- 2 inches fresh turmeric (or 1 teaspoon turmeric powder)
- 4 shallots, peeled
- 5 candlenuts (or macadamia nuts)
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fermented shrimp paste (optional for vegetarians)
- 2 cups tomato passata
- 4 tablespoons tamarind pulp, soaked in 1 cup warm water
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 block firm tofu, cut into cubes and fried
- 1 cup green beans, chopped and blanched
Method
Step One
Get 1 cup of dried chilies, place them in a bowl and add a 1/2 cup of boiling water to it. Let it steep until the chilies are soft. This process should take about 15 minutes.
Step Two
In a food processor, combine the softened chilies along with 6 peeled garlic cloves, the white part of 3 lemongrass stalks, 2 inches of peeled fresh galangal, 2 inches of fresh turmeric (or 1 teaspoon turmeric powder if fresh isn’t available), 4 peeled shallots, and 5 candlenuts (or macadamia nuts if candlenuts aren’t available). Process all these ingredients into a smooth paste.
Step Three
Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the spice paste and the optional 1/2 teaspoon of fermented shrimp paste, if using. Cook this, stirring frequently, until the spice paste is fragrant and cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Step Four
Add 2 cups of tomato passata to the cooked spice paste and stir well to combine. Next, squeeze the soaked tamarind pulp to extract all the juice. Strain this juice (should be about 1/2 a cup) and add it to the saucepan, stirring well. Then add 1 cup of coconut sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt to the saucepan and stir well to dissolve. Continue to simmer this mixture, stirring occasionally, until it thickens. It may take up to 30 minutes.
Step Five
Add the fried tofu cubes to the sambal sauce and stir well to coat the tofu pieces evenly. Let it simmer for a few more minutes so the tofu can absorb the flavors.
Step Six
Blanch 1 cup of chopped green beans. Just before you are ready to serve, stir these into the sambal sauce until they are well covered by the sauce. Serve your Vegetarian Sambal warm, over rice if desired.
