Sambal

Although Sambal is technically more a condiment, this chili-based sauce is a staple at all Indonesian tables and they can't live without it. Any of their favorite dishes won't be complete without a hearty scoop of this lovely combination of chilies, fermented shrimp paste, tangy lime juice, sugar and salt all mixed and pounded with mortar and pestle.

It is so beloved that most restaurants have made it their main attraction with options that include young mango, mushroom and durian.

Nowadays, some brands of prepared, pre-packed, instant, or ready-to-use sambal are available in warung, traditional markets, supermarkets and convenience stores. Most are bottled sambal, with a few brands available in plastic or aluminum sachet packaging. Compared to traditional sambal, bottled instant sambals often have a finer texture, more homogenous content, and thicker consistency, like tomato ketchup, due to the machine-driven manufacturing process. Traditionally made sambals ground in a pestle and mortar usually have a coarse texture and consistency.