Chili Sambol Recipe

Chili Sambol Recipe

(Seeni Sambola Sri Lankan Recipe)

Ingredients:

½ cup oil

4 medium onions, peeled and finely sliced

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 x 170 g (6 oz) can 'prawns in spices'

2 tablespoons vinegar

salt to taste

2 teaspoons sugar

 

Method:

Heat oil in a large frying pan and fry onions very slowly, stirring occasionally until soft, transparent and fragrant.  It is important to fry onions slowly as all the liquid in the onion must evaporate so that the sambol can keep better and longer.  When the onion is golden brown, add chili powder, 'prawns in spices' and vinegar.  Stir thoroughly, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.  Uncover pan and continue simmering, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and oil starts to separate from other ingredients.  Season to taste with salt.  Remove from heat, stir in sugar and allow to cool before putting in a clean dry jar.  Use  in small quantities.

 

Note:  If a hotter sambol is preferred, increase quantity of chili powder.  Chili sambol is a popular accompaniment to rice and curry.  Thanks to convenient canned 'prawns in spices' (sold in Chinese food stores) this simplified version can be prepared in a fraction of the time it takes to make the original recipe, but it taste as good.

 

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