Low Sodium Sweet Sambal

Elevate your dishes with the bold and balanced flavors of Low Sodium Sweet Sambal, a homemade Indonesian-inspired condiment that’s both vibrant and heart-healthy. This recipe transforms a medley of fresh chili peppers, garlic, shallots, and ginger into a perfectly spiced and subtly sweet sauce, featuring coconut sugar for natural sweetness and tamarind paste for a tangy twist. A dash of low sodium soy sauce and rice vinegar enhances the flavor without overwhelming the palate, making it ideal for those seeking low-sodium alternatives. Quick and easy to prepare in just 20 minutes, this versatile sambal can be customized for heat preference and serves beautifully as a dipping sauce, drizzle, or side condiment. Perfect for pairing with grilled meats, rice dishes, or even roasted veggies, this irresistibly rich and flavorful sambal will be your new go-to for bold, health-conscious cooking.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 5 whole Chili peppers (red, mild or spicy, as preferred)
• 3 whole Garlic cloves
• 2 whole Shallots
• 1 inch Ginger
• 1 tablespoon Tamarind paste
• 2 tablespoons Coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon Low sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos
• 1.5 tablespoons Rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Water
• 2 tablespoons Neutral oil (e.g., grapeseed or avocado oil)

Directions

Step 1

Wash and dry the chili peppers, garlic, shallots, and ginger.

Step 2

Roughly chop the chili peppers (remove seeds for less heat), peel and roughly chop the garlic and shallots, and slice the ginger into thin pieces.

Step 3

Heat 2 tablespoons of neutral oil in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat.

Step 4

Add the chopped chili peppers, garlic, shallots, and ginger to the pan. Sauté for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant.

Step 5

Remove the pan from heat and let it cool for a few minutes.

Step 6

Transfer the sautéed mixture to a blender or food processor. Add tamarind paste, coconut sugar, low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water.

Step 7

Blend the mixture until smooth. Add a few more tablespoons of water if the sauce is too thick, adjusting to your desired consistency.

Step 8

Taste the sambal and adjust sweetness or acidity by adding more coconut sugar or rice vinegar as needed.

Step 9

Pour the sambal into a sterilized jar or container with a lid. Let it cool completely before sealing it for storage.

Step 10

Serve as a dipping sauce, drizzle, or as a side condiment. Store leftover sambal in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(454.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	533.3

Total Fat 29.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 551.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 69.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 10.5g	0%
Total Sugars 49.9g
Protein 7.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 86.8mg	0%
Iron 4.0mg	0%
Potassium 1249.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.9%

Protein: 5.4%

Carbs: 48.7%