Sambal Roast Potatoes
Fluffy, crisp roast potatoes glazed with a hot sambal and a squeeze of lime, a fiery twist on the Sunday classic.
Made with Sambal oelek (chilli sambal). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.35 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) and put a roasting tin with 4 tbsp of the oil in to heat.
- 2
Boil the potatoes in salted water for 8 minutes until the edges are soft. Drain, leave to steam dry for 3 minutes, then shake in the colander to rough up the edges.
8 min - 3
Carefully tip the potatoes into the hot oil and turn to coat. Sprinkle with the salt and paprika. Roast for 35 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp.
35 min - 4
Mix your ready made sambal oelek (see the base recipe) with the last tbsp of oil and half the lime juice.
- 5
Pour the sambal mix over the hot potatoes, toss well and roast for 10 minutes more, until sticky and the sambal smells toasted.
10 min - 6
Squeeze over the remaining lime juice, scatter with coriander and serve straight away.
Tips
- Rough up the edges well after boiling. Those fluffy edges become the crispest bits.
- Add the sambal near the end only. Added too early, the chilli burns and turns bitter.
- Serve with a cooling dip, such as coconut yoghurt with lime, for those who like less heat.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Leftovers keep 2 days in the fridge once cooled within 2 hours, and reheat in a hot oven or air fryer until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use sweet potatoes?
Yes. Sweet potato chunks cook faster. Skip the boiling, roast for 25 minutes and add the sambal for the last 8 minutes.
Are these roast potatoes vegan?
Yes. They use vegetable oil and no animal products, so they are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, egg free and nut free.
How do I make them less hot?
Use 20 g sambal and serve extra on the side. The heat softens a lot when it is roasted onto the potato.
More made with sambal oelek (chilli sambal)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.