• Home
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • EASY RECIPES
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • BY CUISINE
    • Asian Fusion
    • Chinese
    • Peranakan/Nyonya
    • CAMBODIA
    • LAOS
    • INDONESIAN
    • Indonesian Chinese
    • MALAYSIA
    • MYANMAR
    • SINGAPORE
    • Singapore Hawker Food
    • THAILAND
    • VIETNAM
  • BY COURSE
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • SOURDOUGH
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • BREAD & BUNS
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • CAKES/COOKIES/PASTRIES
    • Cakes
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Cookies
    • Kue/Kueh
    • No-Bake Dessert
  • DIETARY
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Cooking
    • Christmas Baking
What To Cook Today
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • Pantry
  • Shop
  • subscribe
  • Home
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • EASY RECIPES
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • BY CUISINE
    • Asian Fusion
    • Chinese
    • Peranakan/Nyonya
    • CAMBODIA
    • LAOS
    • INDONESIAN
    • Indonesian Chinese
    • MALAYSIA
    • MYANMAR
    • SINGAPORE
    • Singapore Hawker Food
    • THAILAND
    • VIETNAM
  • BY COURSE
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • SOURDOUGH
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • BREAD & BUNS
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • CAKES/COOKIES/PASTRIES
    • Cakes
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Cookies
    • Kue/Kueh
    • No-Bake Dessert
  • DIETARY
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Cooking
    • Christmas Baking
What To Cook Today
What To Cook Today
  • Home
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • easy recipes
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • ingredients
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • sourdough
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • bread & buns
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • cakes/cookies/pastries
    • Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Cookies
    • No-Bake Dessert
    • Kue/Kueh
  • dietary
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Baking
    • Christmas Cooking

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Spicy Sweet Shallots Chili Sauce)

written by Marvellina Updated: December 17, 2017
6.5K
PIN RECIPE COMMENTS VIEW RECIPE
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

One of the easiest spicy Indonesian sambal you will ever prepare. You only need 3 ingredients, no cooking required and yet it is delish and potently SPICY!

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Spicy Sweet Shallots Chili Sauce) #chili #sambal #indonesianrecipe

Even our kids know that we can’t eat without some sort of chili. We call chili “hiam cio” in Hokkien dialect. My 4-year old will ask “Is there any hiam cio in here mama?” because most of the food I cook is spicy or serve with chili on the side. They don’t really eat super spicy, but they can’t tolerate some mild spiciness.

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Spicy Sweet Shallots Chili Sauce) #chili #sambal #indonesianrecipe

I can’t really remember how I started eating spicy food when I was a kid. My dad couldn’t eat spicy food and my brother can’t eat very spicy food either. My mom is the chili queen in the house. All the women in our family can eat extremely spicy food. Warranted, there’s always some chili in the house. This sambal kecap pedas is one of my most favorites. It’s SUPER easy to make with only 3 ingredients and no cooking is required.

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Spicy Sweet Shallots Chili Sauce) #chili #sambal #indonesianrecipe
*This post contains affiliate links*
ANY SPECIAL INGREDIENT?
You DO need one special ingredient though, Indonesian kecap manis and yes, it has to be Indonesian kecap manis, not the other kind. My favorite brand of kecap manis (and many Indonesians will probably tell you the same) is Kecap manis cap Bango. If you can’t get a hold of the Bango brand, you can use kecap manis ABC too. Stick to using either these two though if you can 😉

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Spicy Sweet Shallots Chili Sauce) #chili #sambal #indonesianrecipe

CAN I USE RED ONIONS INSTEAD OF SHALLOTS IN THIS RECIPE?
Shallots are very commonly used in Indonesian cooking. Since the shallots will be eaten raw in this recipe, I strongly suggest that you stick to shallots instead of onion. Why? It’s less “bitey” compare to onions. Onion, when eaten raw, can be pretty overwhelming to most people, but shallots are much milder and nicer when you eat them raw.

WHAT CAN I USE THIS SAMBAL KECAP PEDAS FOR?
You can use it with pretty much for any rice dishes if you ask me. To give you few examples:
Fried rice such as: Indonesian Nasi goreng, Nasi goreng petai, Roasted chickpeas fried rice, Fried Rice with Shallots
Martabak Mesir
Tahu Tempe Bacem
Sate Ayam Kecap
Tahu Isi Sayur

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Spicy Sweet Shallots Chili Sauce)

Sambal Kecap Pedas (Sweet Spicy Shallots Chili Sauce)

Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Servings 4 servings
4.5 from 2 reviews
REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

  • 5 shallots peeled and thinly sliced
  • 8 Thai red chili (cabe rawit) stemmed and cut into small pieces
  • Indonesian kecap manis

Instructions
 

  • Place the shallots and chili in a bowl and doused with about 4-5 Tbsp of kecap manis

Marv's Recipe Notes

If you prepared more than you need, this can keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I'd love to see your photos/videos on Instagram
previous post
Acorn Squash Rendang
next post
Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Curry Puff Pastry

9 comments

Jim August 8, 2021 - 11:04 am

Your recipe is a good basic one. As a dipping sauce I think you don’t want a lot of large pieces so instead of using cabe rawit, I used a spoonful of sambal oelek and I minced the shallot very fine. This makes for a smoother dipping sauce.

Reply
Marvellina August 9, 2021 - 10:26 pm

Thanks for the feedback. In Indonesia, it’s not unusual that this type of sambal kecap is served the “rustic” way, but yes, you can definitely make it smoother if you prefer.

Reply
Rin Risa December 5, 2020 - 1:09 pm

I love this recipe!! I’ve made this so many times, and it made me love kecap manis more and more. Sweet and a little salty, with some distinct taste that is original to kecap manis.

Though I must say, for the sambal, adding a little more sugar and white pepper can make it even tastier later, if you make a lot of it for the whole day, as the kecap manis will suck the moisture out of the shallots and make the whole thing a little watery and not as thick. Or even add a little salt and lime juice for a perfect sweet and spicy grilling sauce. Yum!

Reply
Jim August 8, 2021 - 11:07 am

I agree with the addition of a little lime juice to add a little acid and brightness to the sauce.

Reply
Ing November 15, 2019 - 1:00 pm

Hi Marvelina,

I typed wrongly, it’s medan lontong that’s being sold in Jalan biruang market?

Love you
Ing

Reply
Marvellina November 19, 2019 - 8:15 pm

Hi Ing,

I do have this https://whattocooktoday.com/rice-cooker-instant-pot-ketupat-lontong.html and https://whattocooktoday.com/lontong-sayur.html Not sure if this is what you are looking for ?

Reply
Ing November 15, 2019 - 12:56 pm

Love your Medan recipes. Fulfill my cravings for my childhood food. Thank you so much!!! I am so grateful that I can cook myself each time I missed Medan!

Do you know how to make the Medan Chee Cheong fun that is from Jalan biruang pasar? Oh I love that one too!

Reply
Evelyn October 28, 2017 - 10:24 pm

Hello Marvelina! You’ve been missed in IG. Anyway thanks for this lovely & essential recipe. I’ll make this once I get all the ingredients

Reply
Marvellina October 29, 2017 - 10:46 am

Hi Evelyn,

omg!! Thank you so much for visiting. I miss IG too and so glad that you hop by to say hello. I hope you like this sambal kecap pedas

Reply
4.50 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Please feel free to ask questions here or leave your comments and ratings if you have tried the recipe! Your Email address will not be published!




Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello! I'm Marvellina!

I’m passionate about food—especially bold, comforting Asian flavors—and I love sharing approachable recipes and creative bakes with an Asian twist. So glad you’re here! LEARN MORE...

Our Favorites

  • How To Make Soft and Fluffy Pandan Chiffon Cake (Complete Guide)

  • How to Make Basic Asian Rice Porridge (Congee)

  • Soft Fluffy Steamed Bao Buns Recipe (Baozi/Mantou)

  • The Easiest Crispy Roast Pork Belly (Siu Yuk – Sio Bak)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

©2025 - What To Cook Today. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy & Disclosure Policy


Back To Top
  • Home
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • easy recipes
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • ingredients
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • sourdough
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • bread & buns
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • cakes/cookies/pastries
    • Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Cookies
    • No-Bake Dessert
    • Kue/Kueh
  • dietary
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Baking
    • Christmas Cooking

Let me know how you like the recipe and consider rating it!

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.