What Is Sambal Cumi Asin?

Sambal cumi asin is an Indonesian sambal made with salted squid (cumi asin) and green chilli. It is a specialty of coastal Indonesian cuisine, where salted and dried seafood is combined with fresh chilli to create intensely flavoured condiments. The salted squid is soaked, chopped and stir-fried with green chilli, garlic and aromatics until the flavours meld into a chewy, spicy, deeply savoury mixture. SS Mart makes sambal cumi asin in small Melbourne batches with imported Indonesian salted squid and fresh green chillies.

Ingredients: Salted squid (cumi asin), green chillies, garlic, shallots, vegetable oil, salt. The defining ingredients are salted squid (cumi asin) and green chilli, which together create the sambal’s chewy texture, briny depth and herbaceous heat.

Allergen Information: Contains mollusc (squid). Made in a facility that handles nuts, soy, gluten, fish and crustaceans. No artificial colours and no preservatives added.

Flavour Profile and Heat Level: Sambal cumi asin is briny, chewy and medium-to-hot. The first impression is the salted squid — deeply savoury, slightly chewy and oceanic. The green chilli follows with a bright, herbaceous heat that cuts through the richness of the squid. Garlic and shallots add aromatic depth. The heat is medium and steady, less aggressive than sambal bawang but more complex thanks to the seafood umami. It is a sambal for those who enjoy bold, savoury, ocean-forward flavours with a proper chilli kick.

How to Use Sambal Cumi Asin: Sambal cumi asin is best used as a side condiment or a rice topping. Spoon it over steamed rice for a quick, intensely flavoured meal. Serve it alongside grilled fish, prawns or chicken as a savoury accompaniment. It works well stirred into fried rice or noodle dishes for a seafood boost. For a simple Indonesian-style meal, pair sambal cumi asin with steamed rice, a fried egg and fresh cucumber.

Pairing Ideas:

• Steamed jasmine rice with a fried egg
• Grilled fish, prawns and seafood
• Fried rice and noodle dishes
• Nasi campur and mixed rice plates
• Fresh cucumber and raw vegetables as a side
• Try alongside Sambal Ijo 140g for a double-green-chilli pairing

Storage: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 1 month. Before opening, store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Stir before serving to redistribute the squid through the chilli base.

About SS Mart: SS Mart is the online home of Waroeng SS Spesial Sambal, a Melbourne-based Indonesian sambal kitchen located at 398 Lygon Street, Carlton, VIC. Every jar is made in small batches using traditional Indonesian methods and imported aromatics, roasted and cooked locally for freshness. SS Mart exists to bring Indonesia’s sambal culture to Australian tables — one jar at a time. Explore our full sambal range.

Buy Sambal Cumi Asin Online: Order salted squid green chili sambal online and have it delivered anywhere in Australia. For wholesale or restaurant enquiries, contact SS Mart directly.