The sambal is a spicy sauce from Indonesia, but which is also popular in other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. It is a versatile sauce that can be used to accompany a wide variety of dishes, including rice, noodles, vegetables and meats. Sambal is generally prepared with peppers, onions, ginger, sugar and salt, but there are many variants that may include ingredients such as dried shrimp, vegetables or tamarind paste. The sambal is often very spicy, but it can be adjusted according to individual tastes using fewer peppers or adding more sugar.