Sambal Pecel

Sambal pecel is a traditional Indonesian peanut sauce commonly used as a dressing for a variety of vegetable dishes, most notably in pecel, a Javanese salad. The sauce is made by grinding roasted peanuts with a combination of chilies, garlic, tamarind, palm sugar, and salt, resulting in a thick, rich, and slightly spicy condiment. Makrut lime leaves are often added to enhance the fragrance and flavor. Sambal pecel is characterized by its sweet, savory, and mildly spicy taste, which complements the fresh, blanched vegetables typically served with it. The sauce is versatile and can also be used as a dip or a topping for other Indonesian dishes. It is commonly prepared fresh at home, but it is also available in ready-made or powdered form in Indonesian markets.