Sambal: Southeast Asia's essential chili paste: gets a Malaysian mango twist that opens the heat with sweetness and rounds it into something genuinely addictive.

• Sambal explained: The foundational condiment of Malaysian cooking, a cooked paste of fresh and dried chilies, aromatics, and fermented shrimp paste that accompanies almost every meal.
• Belacan from Malacca: The fermented shrimp paste is sourced directly from Malacca, the coastal Malaysian city whose seafood-based paste production has centuries of tradition behind it.
• Mango adds a fruity counterpoint: Sweet-tangy mango balances the heat and umami of the sambal base, creating a sauce more nuanced and versatile than the standard red version.
• Handmade by Auria's Malaysian Kitchen: Made in Brooklyn by Auria Abraham ("The Sambal Lady") using her mother's family recipe adapted from Seremban, Malaysia.

For the cook who wants to upgrade everyday cooking with Southeast Asian depth, and for anyone who's tasted sambal at a Malaysian restaurant and wondered how to bring that heat-umami combination home.

Origins

Sambal is as central to Malaysian cooking as ketchup is to American food, every family has their version, shaped by regional and generational differences. Auria Abraham brings her mum's recipe from Seremban to Brooklyn, using belacan from Malacca, one of the most prized sources of fermented shrimp paste in Southeast Asia, for deep, authentic umami depth.

Taste: Sweet-tart mango upfront, then a rolling chili warmth and a deep, savory umami backbone from the belacan, complex, layered, and utterly moreish.
Intensity: Medium heat; the mango keeps it accessible.

How to enjoy

• Stir into stir-fries, noodles, or fried rice as a flavor base
• Use as a dipping sauce for grilled meats, seafood, or spring rolls
• Whisk into salad dressings with lime juice and fish sauce for a Malaysian-style vinaigrette

Details

• Size: 8 oz (237g)
• Key ingredients: Fresh chilies, mango, fermented shrimp paste (belacan, from Malacca), garlic, cane sugar, vinegar, salt
• Dietary notes: Gluten-free; contains shellfish (shrimp paste)
• Allergens: Contains shellfish (shrimp)
• Storage: Refrigerate after opening