This Cambodian chilli salt recipe makes a popular condiment eaten with fruit in Cambodia, in particular sour fruits. Consisting of chilli, salt and sugar, it can be sprinkled on fresh fruit to give it a kick or presented in a bowl as a dipping salt. It’s also fantastic on the rim of a cocktail glass!
Prep Time10mins
Cook Time0mins
Total Time10mins
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: Cambodian / Khmer
Servings: 1Cup
Calories: 396kcal
Author: Lara Dunston
Ingredients
¼cuprock sugar
¼cupchilli flakes or dried red chilliespounded to flakes
½cupsea salt
Instructions
To a large Southeast Asian granite mortar and pestle, add the rock sugar and pound to the same granulated texture of the sea salt, so it still has shape and crunch. Stop pounding before it gets to a powder.
Add the chilli flakes to the mortar – or if you’re starting from scratch, add the dried red chillies, which you’ll need to pound to reduce to flakes. Note: if you prefer mild heat levels, then pound the chillies separately and pour them through a mesh sieve that’s fine enough to catch the seeds, before pounding the sugar.
Lastly, add the sea salt to the mortar, and pound everything just enough to combine, taking care not to grind the mix to a powder.
Use a large spoon and funnel to transfer your chilli sugar salt to a jar or air-tight container for storage, scoop some into a dish if serving soon, or sprinkle some directly onto a platter of fresh fruit if serving immediately to give the condiment time to soak into the fruit. Don’t forget the toothpicks.
Notes
Serve with fruit of your choice, such as pineapple, green mango, green papaya, guava, or green apples, sliced into spears or cubes and served with toothpicks.