How Does Sambal Oelek Compare to Other Chili Pastes?

With its bold heat and robust flavor, this Indonesian chili paste is perfect for spicing up a variety of savory dishes. The best part? It’s an easy replacement for many of your go-to hot sauces. So why wait? Read on to discover more, then grab a jar for yourself.

What Is Sambal Oelek?

Sambal Oelek is a spicy and umami-packed Southeast Asian condiment. It elevates a wide range of dishes, from pasta and ground meats to scrambled eggs if you're feeling adventurous. Made from Thai or red chile peppers, vinegar, and salt, this simple yet flavorful sauce can be found in well-stocked supermarkets, usually in the Asian foods aisle, or ordered online.

The word "Sambal" refers to chili sauce or a hot relish in Indonesian, while "oelek" describes the traditional method of grinding the sauce with a mortar and pestle. The most popular version of this condiment is made by Huy Fong, easily recognized by its bright green lid and vibrant red paste. There are countless regional variations, each with its own twist depending on geography and culture.

What Does Sambal Oelek Taste Like?

With its minimal ingredients, the flavor of the peppers takes center stage in this sauce. More of a chili relish than a traditional ketchup or Sriracha (we’ll get to that later), it’s a thick, reduced chili spread that packs a punch of heat. You’ll want to use it sparingly—a tablespoon or two is all you need. Store it in the fridge after opening, and it will last for months.

Depending on who you ask, Sambal Oelek offers a mild heat without a lot of complexity in flavor. One tablespoon of it can easily replace a small jalapeño in a recipe. If you’re in a pinch, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper are great alternatives. While your go-to hot sauce may share a similar ingredient list, there are key differences—some are sweeter, tangier, or packed with different spices that could change the direction of your dish.

The most popular brand in the U.S., Huy Fong, keeps things simple with its ingredient list. However, be aware that other brands may mix it up with additions like garlic, fish paste, or lemon.

How Does It Compare to Other Sauces?

Chili Garlic Sauce

Very similar to sambal, chili garlic sauce stands out by including garlic (as the name suggests). These two can be used interchangeably if you're in a pinch. Some variations include sugar or different spice blends, often described as tangy. We love its slightly runnier texture. Chili garlic sauce is fantastic for adding heat to dishes like fried chicken; for instance, this Korean fried chicken recipe uses it in the sauce.

Gochujang

Our favorite Korean chili paste, gochujang, has a jam-like texture and delivers a unique sweet, garlicky, spicy punch. Unlike sambal, gochujang has a distinct funky flavor—think blue cheese—thanks to its fermentation process. It’s perfect mixed into ground meats for dishes like meatballs, burgers, or pulled pork. Both sambal and gochujang are great as bases for sauces, dressings, stews, soups, and curries, though they're too intense to be used as dips or toppings. While both rely on chile peppers for heat, gochujang’s sweetness, fermentation, and garlic help mellow out its spiciness.

Harissa

Harissa

This North African classic is a must-have for many dishes and bears a striking resemblance to sambal oelek. Made from chile peppers, salt, and garlic, harissa also incorporates oil and various spices, which give it a distinctive smoky flavor. Common spices include cumin and caraway seeds, which may or may not complement your sambal-based recipe. Harissa’s heat is comparable to sambal oelek and it shines in a wide range of dishes, from grilled chicken and hummus to deviled eggs and beyond.

Sriracha

With its smooth texture and satisfying heat, Sriracha is often used as a dip, much like ketchup or mayo. While sambal oelek and Sriracha share core ingredients like chile peppers, vinegar, and salt, Sriracha also contains sugar and garlic, which gives it a more balanced flavor that some prefer for topping dishes. If you're a fan of Sriracha, you're probably familiar with its signature sour, tangy flavor, a note that sambal lacks.

How Do You Use Sambal Oelek?

How Do You Make Sambal?

Making sambal at home is simple—just blend chile peppers in a food processor (or use a traditional mortar and pestle) with a bit of vinegar and salt, then puree to your desired texture. Once made, it can be stored in a jar and kept in the fridge for easy access. You can choose to cook the paste down further, but it's not necessary.

Check out this guide for making your own Green Chile Sambal or this recipe for sambal sauce. Alternatively, you can grab some from the store and try dishes like Spicy Sambal Shrimp or Stir-Fry Chicken and Broccoli.