Flavor of the Month: Sambal heats up U.S. menus

Sambal is an all-purpose Indonesian table condiment used on everything from vegetables to fish to soup. “Sambal” actually refers to a wide range of chile sauces and relishes often made by pounding chile peppers with ingredients such as shallots, garlic, sugar, salt, shrimp paste, lime juice, oils and spices in a mortar and pestle. The condiment has risen in usage on United States menus by 58% over the past four years.