Sambal Bajak is an Indonesian sauce that is more like a slightly chunky brown paste.
You can use Sambal Bajak as a side condiment on a plate, or spread it on crackers.
Sambal Bajak is made from red chile, powdered galangal, garlic, nutmeg, palm sugar, dried shrimp paste, shallots and tamarind. Some recipes call for Indonesian bay leaves, powdered laos, sereh and ground candlenuts to add to the authenticity and flavour; some versions add Kaffir lime leaf or lemongrass for fragrance, and others add coconut milk.
You can start from dried or fresh red chiles. You pulverise the chile and onion in a blender (or a mortar), sweat the garlic and shallots, then add all the other ingredients and simmer over very low heat, anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the recipe.
If you use lemongrass, Kaffir lime leaf and / or Indonesian bay leaves, remove them after cooking.
You can buy jars of Sambal Bajak in stores.