How to make chili sauce spicier and more delicious without adding more chilies

foto: Pexels/Muhammad ilmi

Its fiery spiciness is able to arouse the spirit and provide an unforgettable sensation.

Brilio.net - Who can resist the deliciousness of chili sauce? This typical Indonesian side dish always succeeds in arousing the appetite and making every dish taste more special. Its fiery spiciness is able to arouse the spirit and provide an unforgettable sensation. However, have you ever felt dissatisfied with the level of spiciness of your homemade chili sauce? Or maybe you want to make a spicier chili sauce without having to add too many chilies?

Don't worry, you're not alone! Many people experience the same thing. The good news is, there's a simple food hack you can try to make your chili sauce spicier and more kick-ass without sacrificing its distinctive flavor and aroma. The secret lies in the process of sauteing the chilies and onions before grinding them.

You may be wondering, why this simple stir-frying process can make a significant difference in the spicy taste of the chili sauce ? Here is the explanation summarized by BrilioFood from various sources.

- Increases the release of capsaicin compounds.

Capsaicin is the chemical compound responsible for the spiciness of chili peppers. This compound is fat-soluble. The process of sauting in hot oil helps break down the chili cells and release more capsaicin. Thus, the resulting spiciness will be stronger and more intense.

- Optimize Aroma and Taste.

In addition to enhancing the spiciness, stir-frying also helps bring out the more complex aromas and flavors of the chilies and onions. The heat from the oil caramelizes the natural sugars in these ingredients, resulting in a subtle sweetness and a more appetizing aroma.

- Extend the shelf life of chili sauce.

The stir-frying process also acts as a natural preservative. The heat from the oil will kill bacteria and microorganisms that can cause the chili sauce to go stale quickly. Thus, the sauteed chili sauce will last longer and can be stored longer.

Now, let's discuss the steps to make a spicier and more kick-ass chili sauce with this simple stir-frying technique:

1. Prepare the ingredients:
- Red chilies or cayenne peppers to taste (the amount can be adjusted to the desired level of spiciness)
- Red onion
- Garlic
- Tomatoes (optional, can be added to give a fresh taste)
- Shrimp paste (optional, can be added to give a distinctive aroma)
- Salt
- Sugar
- Cooking oil

2. Wash and Cut the Ingredients: Wash all the ingredients thoroughly, then cut them into pieces to make them easier to grind or blend.

3. Saute Chilies and Onions: Heat cooking oil in a pan. Saute chilies, shallots, garlic, tomatoes (if using), and shrimp paste (if using) until wilted and fragrant. Make sure to stir regularly so they don't burn.

4. Grind or Blend the Ingredients: After stir-frying, remove the ingredients and put them in a mortar or blender. Add salt and sugar to taste. Grind or blend until smooth or according to your desired texture.

5. Taste Correction: Taste the chili sauce and adjust the taste if necessary. Add salt or sugar if it is not to your taste.

6. Serve: The chili sauce is ready to be served as a complement to your various favorite dishes.

In addition to the stir-frying technique, there are several additional tips you can try to make your chili sauce even more delicious:

- Use Chilies with Different Levels of Spiciness: Combine different types of chilies with different levels of spiciness to create a more complex and layered spicy flavor. For example, you can use a mixture of curly red chilies, red cayenne peppers, and devil chilies.

- Add Ingredients That Increase Spicy Flavor: Some natural ingredients such as ginger, galangal, or pepper can add a unique spicy flavor to your chili sauce.

- Experiment with Herbs and Spices: Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices to create a richer and more varied sambal flavor. For example, you can add a little lime juice, lime leaves, or lemongrass to give it a fresher and more appetizing aroma.

- Pay Attention to the Quality of Ingredients: Use fresh and good quality ingredients to produce chili sauce with optimal taste. Fresh chilies will provide a stronger spiciness and a more fragrant aroma.

- Store Sambal Properly: Store the sambal in an airtight container in the refrigerator to make it last longer. Make sure to use a clean spoon every time you take the sambal to avoid contamination by bacteria.

After mastering the basic technique of making spicy sambal by stir-frying, you can try various variations of sambal recipes that are more creative and innovative. Here are some examples:

- Sambal Bawang: A simple sambal made from cayenne pepper, shallots, garlic, salt, and sugar. Goes well with fried chicken, grilled fish, or fried tofu and tempeh.

- Sambal Terasi: Sambal that uses shrimp paste as the main ingredient. Shrimp paste gives a distinctive aroma and a more savory taste to the sambal.

- Tomato Sambal: Sambal that uses tomatoes as the main ingredient. Tomatoes provide a fresh and sour taste that balances the spiciness of the chili.

- Young Mango Sambal : A unique sambal that uses young mango as the main ingredient. Young mango gives a fresh sour taste and a crunchy texture to the sambal.

- Sambal Ijo: Sambal that uses green chili as the main ingredient. Sambal ijo has a milder spiciness and a fresher aroma compared to red sambal.

(brl/tin)