Making sauces with Aji Amarillo

Peru’s favourite Chilli

Aji Amarillo is a great tasting Chilli that is massively popular in Peru, where it is used to make many Peruvian dishes like Ceviche (marinated fresh seafood), a Papa a la Huancaina (a potato dish with a spicy sauce) and Causa Rellena (a spicy layered potato dish). In addition to these dishes, Peruvians also make hot sauce with Aji Amarillo. They also use it to make a dipping sauce that is served with roast chicken, french fries, boiled potatoes, and fried plantains.

Recently, I bought some Aji Amarillo Chilli paste.  I intend to make a few Peruvian hot sauces and the dipping sauce mentioned above. Usually, I would want to use fresh Chillies to make my sauces, but seeing as this Chilli growing season has only just started, that will be out of the question. At the moment, the Chilli paste will just have to do for now.

The Aji Amarillo paste I will use is authentic and was made in Peru. Indeed, it is even thickened with Tara gum.  This is a thickener uniquely Peruvian. It is an alternative to Guar gum and is made by grinding the endosperm of seeds from a tree native to Peru – the Tara tree.

Because the paste is already thickened, I will only need to add other ingredients like vinegar, garlic, onions, salt and spices to make the hot sauces.  I might also add a bit of Chilli powder and a sweeter sugar to balance the flavours. I aim to make the hot sauces carb friendly and sugar free by using Xylitol or Erythritol. The dipping sauce does not need to be sweetened

The dipping sauce combines sour cream, feta cheese, Aji Amarillo Chillies and citrus to make a creamy sauce that is great for serving with various dishes. It is also fantastic as a dip for a snack table, where it can be eaten with potato crisps, nachos or flat breads

Okay, so let’s make some Aji Amarillo sauces!

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Where did BBQ originate?

Barbequing with the Chilli

Barbacoa

When considering how many barbeque rubs, basting sauces and marinades have Chillies in them, it should not be surprising that Chillies and Barbeques make a great partnership.  Indeed, but even more so than simply tasting good together. They are, in fact, linked historically.

The name for barbeque originated from “barbacoa, a word from the language of the Taino Indians of the Caribbean. It was the Taino Indians who first brought Chillies from South America to the West Indies.

When Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean in 1492, he encountered the Taino Indians and was introduced to the Chilli. When he returned to Spain, he took some Chillies with him.  As we know, it was from there that they began making their way around the world.

Many don’t know, though; it was also the Spanish that brought back the word barbacoa with them. It originally referred to a wooden structure that the Taino Indians used to smoke their food in. The idea was taken back to Spain but over time was changed to mean the method of cooking the food, rather than a cooking structure. Anglicisation of the word meant it finally became the word we know today - barbeque.

Barbequing with the Chilli

Ideas for the perfect barbeque

Now that we have the history, our next barbeque with the Chilli will now include some great food, but also an interesting story to tell with it.

Here are some great ideas for the perfect BBQ.

Good barbequing is always about using your imagination to make things different. Barbequing with Chillies makes this easy. Even if you just want to barbecue a couple of hamburgers, using a spicy cheese or making a spicy mayo to serve on top of the lettuce in the bun will make your BBQ something special. The possibilities are limitless.

Enjoy your BBQ.

 

Find some great tips on barbequing on  the Fire Up your Grill website

 

 

How Chillies and BBQ are linked

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Chillies and BBQ are linked

Dips from around the world

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Is that a dip or dipping sauce?

In some parts of the world, a dip might mean something you immerse crisps or tortilla chips into while watching television. This type of dip can also be found at a cocktail party, typically surrounded by breadsticks, flatbreads or crudités,  etc. They are considered to be there for nothing more than for filling a gap. In other words, a snack.

In other parts of the globe, dips may instead be understood to mean something that accompanies a meal as part and parcel of a dish.  The purpose here is to add flavour to a dish that forms part of a meal, either as a starter or main course.

Comparing the types of dips found on snack tables at a cocktail party and those that come with a  Risjttafel illustrates the point well.

The idea with snack table dips is that the accompanying breadsticks or crudités, such as carrots or celery, will be immersed in the dip and then eaten (quite often, there and then).  At a Rijsstafel, individual skewered items like meat, seafood or cheese are dipped, and are more likely to be eaten while sitting at a table. Individual pieces are consumed from the skewers after they have been immersed in the dipping sauce.

More dipping sauces

The Rijsttafel style of dips with Chillies is commonly found throughout South East Asia. Indeed. The Rijsttafel had its origins in Indonesia when the country was under Dutch rule. Other countries that have this style of eating include (among many others) Indonesia, Korea, Thailand. Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos Examples of these sauces include  Nam Jim Jaew and Nam pla wan (from Thailand), Jaew bongDips with Chillies. Skewered chicken (from Laos), Cincalok (from Malaysia), Mắm nêm (from Vietnam), Sambal Badjak from Indonesia and  ssamjang from Korea

Dips with Chillies may be hot or cold. Hot dips with Chillies include Spicy Queso dip from Mexico and  Chicken Satay from Indonesia. While not traditionally spicy, there is no reason that Chip Shop curry sauce ( a hot dip  from the United Kingdom)  cannot be made with Chillies added

Hot Chips are dipped in various adding sauces  around Europe, but particularly in the Netherlands and Belgium. Andalusian (a Belgian sauce made with mayonnaise, tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and spice). Other typical Belgian Frites (hot chips) sauces are Samurai (made from mayonnaise, ketchup and harrisa) and Pili Pili ( a dipping sauce made with Chillies, with or without mayonnaise)

Finally

Some other iconic dipping sauces and dips with Chillies are closely associated with particular countries. Guacamole from Mexico, Sriracha from Thailand, Aji Verde from Peru and Molho apimentado from Brazil  are good examples

Best ways to use Chillies

Link to cooking with chillies index page
Cooking with chillies

Ways in which Chillies are used

So how are Chillies used in cooking around the world?  The simple answer is – in many, many ways!  Cooking with Chillies is done daily by a sizeable part of the world's population in a lot of different styles. So it just stands to reason, with so much practising going on, someone somewhere has tried at least one of many possible ways of preparing them.

The following list is a start to understanding what some of the possibilities are.

Hot sauces and relishes

Almost every country where Chillies are eaten has its own special hot sauce or  Chilli relish. Peri-peri sauce from Portugal, Sriracha from Thailand, Tabasco sauce from the USA and  Chili pepper water from Hawaii are examples of hot sauces like this. Chillies are frequently combined with vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, fruit, and other ingredients to make these  sauces.  The ingredient combinations are then commonly cooked, and blended. Methods like fermentation and barrel ageing are used to enhance flavour further.

Cooking with Chillies. Hot sauces

Relishes are generally made by combining Chillies with Bell peppers and other ingredients like tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices. They are thicker than hot sauces and are generally spooned rather than poured over food.  Relishes  are particularly popular in Eastern Europe. Adjika and Pindjur from Georgia and Bulgaria respectively are examples of this type of sauce. They are regarded as specialities of their home countries. Another example is Ajvar from North Macedonia.

In South East Asia, hot sauces can be used as  condiments, but also as  dipping sauces.  Typically, meat or vegetables on skewers or spring rolls  will be dipped into these sauces . Examples include Nam Prik Poa from Thailand and Sambal Balado from Indonesia. In countries like Thailand, Indonesia., Malaysia and Vietnam ingredients like galangal, lemon grass, fish sauce, shrimp paste and lime juice are used   to make these sauces.

Jams and Chutneys

Chillies are typically combined with ingredients like apples, tomatoes, and other vegetables/ fruit to make fantastic jams and condiments served with food.   Chilli and tomato jam is not only used to spread on bread, but also with roast meats.

Chutneys are typically served with curry  or as a  dip with flatbreads like rotis, chappatis or naans.

Pickles

Chillies make great pickles when aged in vinegar and other spices. A great advantage of making a Chilli pickle is that the vinegar utilised for the pickling can be used to flavour drinks like Bloody Marys and add flavour to stews like Feijoada.

A great example of  a fermented pickle /side dish made with Chillies is Kimchi from Korea. It is made with Chinese cabbage, diacon radishes and spring onions

Vinegar and oils

Chillies are steeped in oil or vinegar, so that the Chilli's flavour is imparted to the liquid or oil. These are then used to add flavour to dishes like pizza ( with Chilli oil ) and collards, where Chilli vinegar is added for a  great spicy taste.

Another use for Chilli oil is for frying  onions, garlic, and other  spices when starting a curry or other spicy stew. All of these are really easy and effective ways of cooking with Chilllies.

Roasted or stuffed

Milder varieties (sometimes pungent)  Chillies   like Bell peppers, Poblanos, Cubanelles and Jalapenos are frequently used more as  a vegetable rather  than as a spice. They are typically stuffed with a filling consisting of cheese, rice or meat, and then baked in the oven.  They may also be charred or  roastedCooking with Chillies. Stuffed Chillies  before baking,  to add flavour.  An example of a hot Chilli being used in this way is the Rocoto from Peru.

In  Brazil and Mexico, Chillies are stuffed, coated in breading  or batter, and then fried. Dishes like Rellenos and  Crispy Brazilian Chilli poppers are all examples of this fantastic way of cooking Chillies. Padron Chillies from Spain and Rocotos  from Peru are prepared by frying the whole Chillies  in olive oil  until they soften and blister.  Fried whole  Chilles dishes are typically served as appetizers

In the USA, Jalapenos are stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon, and then baked in the oven ( Jalapeno poppers). Similarly, in the UK, prawns are stuffed in Chillies ( prawn stuffed Chillies) and then also  baked. These dishes are commonly served as a  starter as part of a dinner party or seafood evening. Another great way of cooking with Chillies

As a dry spice

Hotter varieties like Cayenne and Birds-eye Chillies are used to make Chilli powders, flakes, and rubs.  for everyday use.  Superhot cultivars  like Ghost peppers and Scotch bonnets are also ground into powders and flakes for use in Carribean style cooking.Cooking with Chillies. Chillies as a dry spice Urfa biber , a dried Chilli with a burgundy colour when dried, is an upcoming favourite amongst chefs. It has its origins in Turkey , but has since started becoming popular around the world.

Chilli powders are used extensively to make curries and other spicy dishes like Chili. Chilli flakes are typically used to add flavour to grilled meats and vegetables. They are also great sprinkled over  cheese, eggs and dips.

Barbeque rubs are made by blending spices with ingredients like sugar , salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and other spices.  This spice is then rubbed into meat before it is barbecued over an open fire or in a kettle barbeque.  Rubs are also used to smoke and slow cook meat. These methods of cooking are particularly popular in the USA . Another great way of introducing flavour when cooking with Chillies

Stir fries

Stir fries are a category of cooking with Chillies that requires a special mention. In countries like Thailand, China, Korea and Indonesia, countless dishes are made using Chillies. They are used both as a vegetable and a spice to make these dishes. Some of the more popular stir fries from these countries include Pad Thai and stir-fried noodles with Sai Au from Thailand, spicy fried rice from China, Nasi Goreng from Indonesia and Kimchi Bokkuembap ( kimchi fried rice from Korea). Other countries where stir fries  are popular with Chillies include Vietnam, Malaysia and  Mexico

As a vegetable Cooking with Chillies. Raw Chillies

Fresh chillies are used to add piquancy and flavour to curries, goulashes, soups, salads, and spicy stews.   Typically, when being used like this, Chillies are there to perform the role of a vegetable and also to provide piquancy to the dish. This is an important element in cooking with Chilllies, especially in curries

Additionally, they are chopped and eaten raw (typically green Chillies)  with curries, either on their own or as an ingredient in sambal  

Snacks

Chillies are used to make fried snacks like  Punungulu ,  Pakoras, Bhajis , and Samosas from India Chilli bites from South Africa and Tod man pla from Thailand. Chillies are also used to make a wide selection of fritters in countries like  Vietnam and Indonesia.

Finally

So, cooking with Chillies is very diverse. The above are but a start to exploring how  Chillies are used in cooking.  Consider, for instance (amongst many other uses)  cheesemaking, baking, desserts and making spicy drinks. The list goes on.

Join us in our voyage of discovery into the fascinating world of  Chillies.

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Theme meals with Chillies

How Chilli heat is measured

What is Capsaicin?

Wilber Scoville

Many Chilli fans will have heard of the Scoville rating system. This system measures the pungency of Chillies in terms of what is known as Scoville heat units. The higher the number of Scoville units (SHU) a Chilli is rated at, the hotter it is. For example, Bell peppers are rated zero SHU, and the Carolina Reaper (officially the world’s hottest Chilli) is between 1500000 and 2150000 SHU.

The Scoville rating system came into existence when Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist, developed a method of measuring the heat levels of individual varieties of Chilli in 1912.

Image: Wilber Scoville
Wilber Scoville

The original system involved capsaicin being extracted from dried hot Chillies with alcohol. This was then diluted in sugared water. A panel of five trained men would taste progressively decreased dilutions of the extract until at least three could not detect the presence of capsaicin. Each dilution was measured as 100 SHU. The number of dilutions multiplied by 100 determined the Scoville heat rating of the variety being tested.

Today, testing for capsaicin levels has become far more precise with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography. The results achieved with this method are more reliable because they are not dependent on a subjective perception of heat, but rather on the scientific analysis of capsaicin

Most Scoville rating charts will provide a range of heat units for a Chilli variety. This is because not all Chillies are the same.  Individual pods may contain more or less capsaicin, even though they are of the same variety (and for that matter even from the same plant) . For this reason, more than one pod is tested. Pods are selected from various plants grown together in a single season .  The lowest and highest test results are then provided as the heat range of the particular variety. The middle of the range is the average SHU of the specific variety.

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Leftover chicken recipes

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Starters , snacks and dips

How can leftover chicken be used?

If you need ideas on how to use up leftover chicken, you have come to the right place. Chicken and Chillies are  perfect partners. They combine excellently. The results will be so good your family and friends will never guess that you have used leftover food. Indeed, unless you told them otherwise, they might even think that the chicken was purposely made just to make your dish.

So, what can be made with left over chicken? The possibilities are limitless.How to use leftover chicken In its simplest form leftover chicken can be eaten cold with some homemade Chilli mayonnaise or a sweet Chilli sauce.  It is great as part of a cold meat buffet or when used to make chicken mayonnaise sandwiches.

Leftover chicken can also be used to make cooked food. One fantastic use for it is in omelettes. Simply mix together a couple of eggs with little water , cut the chicken into pieces and you are set to go.  All that is now required is to heat some butter in a pan. Add a chopped Chilli and then after frying it for a minute add the eggs . As soon as the eggs start setting add the chopped chicken ( and maybe some cheese). Place these ingredients on one side. Cook until the egg mixture has cooked through then fold the other half of the omelette over the chicken and Chillies . You can flip  it over at this stage to make sure both sides are golden brown. It's as simple as that . Your omelette is now ready to serve

 

Stir frying leftover chicken with mushrooms and chillies

Recipes for leftover chicken

Leftover chicken is delicious when used in baking. Use it to make chicken pies, burritos, chicken empanadas or spring rolls. Spring rolls, in particular, lend themselves to being eaten with dipping sauces.  Sriracha and Thai  sweet Chilli sauce are examples of the dipping sauces served with spring rolls.

The sky is the limit. The following recipes can also be used to make dishes with leftover chicken.

Some other ideas

Spicy appetizers and snacks

Adding great flavour

Left over chicken can sometimes be dry . A  good way of correcting this is to put it in a sauce or cook it with  ingredients like vegetables . Stir frying  with beansprouts and Napa cabbage, for example, will reintroduce moisture to the chicken. The following ideas will not only solve dryness but also give the leftover  chicken dish   great flavour

Curry

Leftover chicken can be added to a curry sauce base. This is similar to the way many Indian restaurants can offer the wide range of menu choices that they do. The curry sauce base is pre-made.  Other ingredients are added to change the character of a dish. An example of a dish made in this way is this recipe for Chicken Jalfrezi.

Stir fries

Leftover chicken and Chillies make great stir-fry friends. Simply heat some onions in oil. Cook them until they are transparent. Add some chopped bell peppers, a fresh Chilli or two and then stir fry the chicken. Once the chicken is heated through add some mushrooms. Saute the mushrooms until they are starting to become soft .Then add bean sprouts and some Chinese lettuce leaves. Allow these to start wilting then add some sweet Chilli stir-fry sauce. Allow the sauce to start simmering. Your stir-fry will be ready at this point

Other stir-fry recipes that can be made with leftover chicken include Pad Thai and Nasi Goreng from Indonesia. In both these recipes, just fry the chicken for less time.

Soups

Some great soups like Tom Yum from Thailand, Chicken and prawn Laksa from Malaysia can be made with leftover chicken. In these dishes instead of cooking the chicken as called for in the recipes, simply add it at the end to warm through.

Finally

Don’t forget how good left-over chicken can be in salads. You can use the crispy recipe above for the chicken or if you have any leftover spicy Southern fried chicken use that as well.

Enjoy!

Chillies in Thai recipes

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The cuisine in Thailand is very distinctive.  In most Thai dishes, you will find (among others) a combination of Chillies, lemongrass, shrimp paste, fish sauce and galangal. These ingredients are masterfully blended in different proportions to arrive at some fantastic creations that are as pleasing to the eye as they are flavourful.

This section explores a selection of recipes that showcases how Chillies are used in Thai recipes.

Thai recipes with Chillies

Pad Thai with chicken and prawns
Glass noodles with Sai ua

More about Thai cooking

Thai cooking in a nutshell

Thai cooking is broken down into four basic categories, Tom (Boiled foods ), Yam (pounded dishes). Tam (spicy salads)  and Kaeng ( curries). Thai cooking has also been influenced by Indian and Chinese cuisine. Examples of dishes from these categories include Tom Klong PlaThai cooking with chillies. Ingedients ( a spicy sour soup made with fish and  tamarind), Tom yam boran ( noodles in a spicy sour broth with crushed Chillies, Som tam khai khem (papaya salad with salted eggs) and Kaeng ranchuan ( beef curry with fermented shrimp and Chilli sauce). One thing that is virtually common throughout is the use of Chillies in Thai recipes.

Thai cooking aims to balance five taste sensations: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and bitter. This is done using ingredients like lemongrass, Chillies, limes, Thai Basil, sugar, fish sauce, galangal, shrimp paste and stocks. Furthermore, attention is paid to the taste, texture, colour,  and smell. To achieve balance in all these factors requires a lot of skill . The Thai people love cooking, and this is finely demonstrated in their cuisine. Indeed, anyone who has tasted well-made Thai food will tell you that it is simply fantastic. It is a harmony of flavour not easily matched.

The world's most popular food

A  survey to determine the "World's 50 Best Foods" by CNN travel in 2017, thirty-five thousand respondentsRed Chillies Worldwide voted Thai dishes a favourite no fewer than seven times. The dishes that appeared on the list were (spicyTom Yum Goong  seafood soup), Pad Thai ( stir-fried noodles, Som Tam (green papaya salad). Massaman curry ( rich, mild Thai Curry), Green curry (seafood curry with coconut milk, basil and Chilles), Thai fried rice ( spicy fried rice)  and Nam Tok mu (pork salad with shallots and Chillies)

Dipping sauces and satay

Another feature of Thai cooking is the use of spicy dipping sauces and satays in their cuisine.  In Chicken satay,  chicken skewers are dipped into a spicy peanut sauce . Nam Jim Jaew( a smoky sweet and sour sauce made with Chillies, sticky rice powder , Cilantro, Fish sauce and other ingredients) is used for grilled meats. One Thai sauce that is particularly popular around the world is Thai sweet Chilli sauce. 

And finally

With all the attention to detail that goes into making Thai food, it is no wonder that it is so good. Their  mastery of combining their world-renowned Chilli, the Thai bird's eye Chilli, into their recipes is an additional factor that  certainly adds to this

Gin Khao!

More reading:  The use of Chillies in Thai cooking

Samosa- India

Samosa
Nutrition Information
  • Serves: 35
  • Serving size: 35 g
  • Calories: 75
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Saturated fat: 2 g
  • Unsaturated fat: 1 g
  • Trans fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 78 mg
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 14 mg
Recipe type: Snacks
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Few snacks are as versatile as the samosa. While they are stunning when served hot , they are equally good cold. It is best to serve them with lemon wedges when they are freshly fried. They should be served with dipping sauces like sweet and sour tamarind sauce or Chilli mayo when cold . Similarly , they are also good served with chutneys.
Ingredients
  • Filo pastry – one pack
  • Minced meat – 500 grams ( beef or lamb)
  • Onion – one medium ( 10mm dice)
  • Ghee – one tablespoon ( see note)
  • Vegetable oil - 500 ml
  • Chilli powder – one teaspoon
  • Green chillies – 2 to three
  • Curry powder – one tablespoon
  • Turmeric – one teaspoon
  • Ginger paste two teaspoons.
  • Garlic cloves – two
  • Salt to taste
  • Three lemons - cut into wedges.
Instructions
  1. Heat the ghee (or oil) to medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger. Sautee for a minute
  2. Add the green chillies fry for another minute.
  3. Add the salt, curry and chilli powders and allow the spices to cook through ( about five minutes)
  4. Add the mince and turmeric.
  5. Fry until all pinkness has disappeared, until almost dry
  6. Add the onions and cook until the mince is beginning to brown. The onions should still be crisp at this point.
  7. Cut the pastry into 7cm x 30cm strips. Fold into the traditional triangle shape and fill the samosas by following the instructions here Folding and filling samosas
  8. Once the samosas have been folded and filled, heat the vegetable oil. Fry the samosa until golden brown and crisp
  9. Drain way the excess oil on kitchen towels
  10. Serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
This recipe yields 35 to 40 samosas

Keywords: Samosas with chillies

 

Preserving Chillies

Using your harvest

As Chillies ripen swiftly across the United Kingdom, you might soon find yourself facing an abundance of these fiery gems. It’s time to ponder their fate. As the seasons shift and your garden or local market bursts forth with these vibrant, fiery wonders, you may be contemplating how to maximize this bountiful harvest.

The allure of Chillies extends beyond their vibrant colours and spicy charisma; it lies in their transformative power, turning ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary creations. They are the dynamic ingredient capable of elevating a bland meal to a taste sensation, and a chilly evening into a warm and spicy adventure.

Chillies are more than mere food; they represent a cultural phenomenon that spans the globe, from the fiery curries of India to the zesty salsas of Mexico. Whether you relish their fiery heat, savour the nuanced flavours they impart, or simply admire their vibrant hues, one thing remains undeniable: Chillies are a culinary treasure worth preserving.

In this comprehensive guide, we embark on a journey to unlock the art of preserving Chillies, ensuring that you have this versatile ingredient at your fingertips throughout the year. From drying and freezing to pickling and infusing, we’ve assembled a diverse array of techniques to help you relish the zestful essence of Chillies long after the harvest season has waned.

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Rijsttafel pickles and condiments

Theme evening with chillies. Sambals

Indonesian sambals & pickles

Risttafels are accompanied by many condiments , pickles, chutneys and relishes  Many of these are made with Chillies combined with shrimp paste , garlic, lemongrass, scallion, lime juice and palm sugar. These relishes are called sambals in Indonesia.

Acar

A type of pickle made with various combinations of vegetables, with Chillies, vinegar. Kaffir limes and peanuts  Dried Chillies may also be added.

Sambal Badjak

A spicy dipping sauce. Sambal Bajak is made from tomatoes, chillies, tamarind, shrimp paste, garlic, lemon juice and sugar

Sambal Oelek

Sambal Oelek is a very pungent relish made with a lot of Chillies, garlic, lemon grass , ginger , limes, shrimp paste  vinegar and sugar.  The ingredients used in this relish are used in many other sambals that can be served with Rijsttafel

Other example of  sambals include Sambal Terasi and Sambal Bawang

Rijsttafel vegetable dishes