Seeni Sambal Sweet and Spicy Onion Relish
Elevate your meals with Seeni Sambal, a rich and flavor-packed sweet and spicy onion relish that’s a staple in Sri Lankan cuisine. This slow-cooked condiment combines caramelized red onions, aromatic spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, and a perfect balance of tamarind pulp, sugar, and chili flakes for a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. The simmered relish transforms into a sticky, deeply flavorful accompaniment that pairs beautifully with rice, curries, or even a slice of bread. Ready in just 40 minutes, this versatile onion relish is easy to make and can be refrigerated for up to a week, making it a convenient option to add bold, authentic taste to your day-to-day meals.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams Red onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon Dried chili flakes
- 1 stick Cinnamon stick
- 4 whole Cloves
- 3 pods Cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 tablespoon Tamarind pulp
- 50 grams Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 50 milliliters Water
Instructions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
Add the cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom pods to the hot oil and sauté for 30 seconds to release their aroma.
Stir in the sliced red onions and cook on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until the onions become soft and caramelized.
Add the dried chili flakes and tamarind pulp to the onions and mix well.
Stir in the sugar, salt, and water, and simmer the mixture for 5-10 minutes until it thickens and becomes sticky.
Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom pods before serving.
Let the Seeni Sambal cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for up to a week.
Serve as a relish alongside bread, rice, or your favorite curries.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
497 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 28.0 g | 36% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.1 g | 20% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 16.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2410 mg | 105% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 64.9 g | 24% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.3 g | 51% | |
| Total Sugars | 28.5 g | ||
| Protein | 6.7 g | 13% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 212 mg | 16% | |
| Iron | 2.7 mg | 15% | |
| Potassium | 934 mg | 20% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
