Trader Joe's Sambal Matah Indonesian Salsa

So I bought this on a whim from my local TJs and it is so incredibly good that I had to come here to review it. First, it's called a salsa, but since it's in oil, I don't really think of it as something you can dip chips in, like the jar says. Just too rich. But a nice slice of bread is good. It is spicy. It has a wonderful roasted pepper and garlic that lends a sweetness that pairs incredible well with the light citrus and almost perfumed tang of the lemon grass. I have had it a few ways: I've mixed it with mayo, which cuts some of the heat, and spread it on toasted bread with leftover shredded turkey. I've also used it as a topping for a soft fried egg. Run a piece of buttered toast through the yolk and the combination is over the top. Don't forget a light sprinkle of salt! The last way I tried was paired with cream cheese and crackers. I just mixed a little of one and a little of another. Going to try it on a bagel next. Seriously, buy a jar of this. You will be finding foods to put it on just to have that spicy, tangy, I can't stop eating it bite!

We picked this up at our local Trader Joe's because it sounded interesting (and I LOVE lemongrass). The other reviewers are right... it is a bit oily as is for dipping with chips. I recommend that you drain off some of the oil when using it for that purpose (save that oil for cooking or seasoning! It's too good to waste). I do like it with chips or veggies once the oil is drained off.But where this "salsa" REALLY shines is as a marinade! We had some chicken pieces we wanted to cook up last night, so I decided to experiment marinating them with the Sambal Matah. I added some tamari and chili garlic sauce (we like spicy!) to the mix, generously coated the chicken and let it sit for a little bit, then baked it up with some veggies. It was SO GOOD! As they baked, the chicken and veggies released a lot of water, which resulted in a delicious sauce. It made me wish that I had made rice last night to soak it up... next time. We did save the sauce, however... we'll use that with something else tonight :)It's a little pricey here on Amazon, so I'd check for it in your local Trader Joe's first. But if you don't have a TJ nearby, at least it's available on Amazon!

Yes it is quite spicy- if you are sensitive, use it sparingly, like Tabasco or other hot sauce. Yes, there is quite a bit of oil- when I open a jar, I pour out the excess on top, repeat as necessary.As per other reviews, it's great on eggs; in sandwiches with or without other spreads; in soup; I've even added it to salad dressing for a nice kick.

So.. If you ever wonder how to make sambal matah the original Balinese way, there isn't as much oil involved as the one TJ sells.You literally could just chop up shallots, lemongrass and thai peppers on your own and drizzle a lime juice on top. Tastes just as good if not better!