You've bought a jar of sambal and now you're staring at it thinking...
"Okay... what do I actually do with this?"
Good news.
You don't need to learn a whole new cuisine. You don't need a complicated recipe. And you definitely don't need to save it for a "special occasion".
Sambal is made for everyday eating.
That little spoonful in the fridge has the power to turn a very average meal into something you'll actually look forward to.
Here are some of our favourite ways to use sambal.
15 easy ways to use sambal every day
1. Scrambled eggs
Eggs are great.
But eggs with sambal? That's a completely different breakfast.
Stir a spoonful through scrambled eggs or add it on top of fried eggs for a spicy, savoury kick.
2. Avocado toast
Move over, chilli flakes.
A little sambal on avocado toast adds heat, garlic, and loads more flavour.
3. Grilled cheese
Because melted cheese and chilli were basically made for each other.
Add a little sambal inside your sandwich before grilling for a crispy, spicy upgrade.
4. Roast potatoes
Golden potatoes + sambal = a very good idea.
Toss roasted potatoes through sambal while they're warm, or serve it alongside as a dipping sauce.
5. Chicken sandwiches
A boring sandwich is usually just missing one thing.
Add sambal with chicken, lettuce and mayo for an instant flavour upgrade.
6. Pizza
Yes, really.
A few drops of sambal on pizza works surprisingly well. Especially when you're looking for something to cut through all that cheesy goodness.
7. Fried rice
This one is a classic for a reason.
Stir sambal through fried rice for extra flavour, spice and that delicious savoury depth.
8. Stir fries
Skip the complicated sauces.
A spoonful of sambal with your favourite vegetables, protein and noodles creates an easy weeknight dinner with minimal effort.
9. Noodles
From instant noodles to homemade bowls, sambal makes noodles infinitely better.
(And yes, it can absolutely rescue a "can't be bothered cooking" dinner.)
10. Dumplings
Dip them.
Drizzle it.
Mix it into your dipping sauce.
Sambal and dumplings are a match made in heaven.
11. Burgers
Forget extra cheese for a second.
A little sambal mixed into your burger sauce adds the perfect spicy, savoury twist.
12. Steak
A spoonful of sambal alongside a juicy steak brings acidity, heat and flavour that cuts through the richness.
13. Roast vegetables
Not a vegetable person?
Try roasting your favourite veggies until they're caramelised, then adding sambal.
Suddenly broccoli has a personality.
14. Pasta
Think of sambal as your new secret pasta ingredient.
Add it to tomato-based sauces, creamy sauces or even a simple garlic and olive oil pasta.
15. Mayonnaise (aka the easiest spicy mayo)
This might be the simplest sambal trick in the book.
Mix 2 tablespoons mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon sambal.
That's it.
Use it for fries, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and as a dipping sauce.
More ways to use sambal (because we could keep going)
Stir it into soups for an instant flavour boost.
Add it to marinades with soy sauce, garlic and honey for juicy chicken.
Mix it through dressings.
Add it to leftovers.
Put it on pretty much anything that needs a little something extra.
Because that's the beauty of sambal.
It's not just a chilli sauce you use once in a while.
It's the everyday pantry staple that makes answering "what's for dinner?" a little bit easier.