Brunei - Bajak Chili Sauce (Sambal Bajak)

Bajak Chili Sauce 

(Sambal Bajak)

Ingredients

-       8 red chilies, seeded and sliced

-       1 tsp. dried shrimp paste (terasi), toasted

-       ¼ tsp. grated nutmeg

-       3 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

-       6 shallots, peeled and sliced

-       1 tsp. salt

-       1½ tsp. chopped palm sugar

-       2 Tbs. oil

-       2 salam leaves

-       2 stalks lemongrass, bruised

-       ½ inch galangal (laos), peeled and sliced

-       4 Tbs. tamarind juice

Directions

-       Grind with a mortar and pestle or blend the first 7 ingredients very finely.

-       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.

-       Lastly, pour the tamarind juice and let it simmer for about a minute and then leave to cool.

-       Remove salam leaves, lemongrass and galangal before serving.

Note: Keeps up to 1 week or longer