Sambal Sayur: a Simple Green Bean Sambal

Welcome to another great sambal recipe! Sambal sayur is a vibrant and mild sambal that uses green beans as its main ingredient. It’s a fantastic way to add some zest to your vegetable dishes. Try it out if you’re into a green bean sambal!

To make sambal sayur, simply chop and grind a chili paste, fry the paste, add green beans to the stir-fry and that’s it!

What is Sambal sayur?

Sambal sayur is a traditional Indonesian sambal that highlights the freshness and crunch of green beans. Made by grinding chili, garlic, candlenuts, and other spices, this sambal is fried with green beans to create a flavorful and aromatic dish. It’s commonly served as a side to rice, noodles, or grilled dishes. Let’s get into how to make sambal sayur!

Step 1: Collect the ingredients

Note: the given kcal count is based on an online calculator and could deviate from your actual caloric content.

What to consider when choosing the ingredients

• Green Beans: Fresh green beans are essential for a crunchy texture. Ensure they are washed and trimmed before chopping.
• Chilli: Use a large red chilli for moderate heat. For a spicier sambal, consider using smaller, hotter chillies.
• Garlic and Candlenuts: Fresh garlic and candlenuts impart a rich, nutty flavor. If needed, substitute candlenuts with macadamia nuts.
• Palm Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness that balances the heat. Brown sugar can be used as a substitute if palm sugar is unavailable.
• Sunflower Oil: Chosen for its neutral flavor and high smoke point, making it perfect for frying the spice paste.

Step 2: Chop and grind the ingredients

Chop the red chilli and garlic finely. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the chopped chilli, garlic, and candlenuts together with palm sugar, salt and white pepper until a smooth paste forms. Alternatively, use a food processor. This will be much quicker but less traditional.

Step 3: Fry sambal sayur

Heat some sunflower oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the spice paste and fry for a few minutes, stirring continuously to prevent burning.

Add the chopped green beans and fry for about 5 minutes, ensuring the beans are well-coated with the spice paste. Adjust salt and white pepper to taste.

Step 4: Serve and conserve sambal sayur

Serve the sambal warm as a side dish with rice, curries, fried foods or on a sandwich. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Always be sure to check conserved food for spoilage before eating!

Here are some recipes I recommend serving the sambal with:

• Nasi goreng ayam
• Nasi goreng cina
• Nasi tomat
• Nasi kuning
• Terong balado
• Tahu gejrot

And combine with traditional sambal recipes:

• Sambal toge
• Sambal pare
• Sambal serundeng
• Sambal kentang
• Sambal cumi
• Sambal tuna
• Sambal nanas