Speaking as a Malaysian that have lived here all my life, I really love spicy food. In almost every dish, I would have chopped bird’s eye chilli or sambal on the side. There’s just something addictive about spicy food that is indescribable. In European countries, people prefer to have some kick in their cuisine as well.
Pebre is a sauce that is well-known in European countries, especially Chile. This sauce has become their side dish or condiment for most of their main meals.
The Origins Of Pebre
Pebre originated from Chile. It is rather fascinating for most people as Chilean cuisine does not come off as spicy or hot. Even so, this sauce or condiment has taken over their taste buds since a long time ago.
The term “pebre” refers to pepper. It does not explicitly refer to any type of pepper but is a general term for peppers. In this dish, however, pebre means chilli pepper.
Pebre And Its Similar Sauces Across Continents
In Brazil, there is something similar to pebre, except that it is not spicy and hot. The Brazilians have this condiment or salad dressing called “vinagrete.”
Mexico is famous for its wide varieties of dishes with unique sauces that enhance the flavour of the food. There is a similar sauce in Mexico called pico de gallo. It is generally made with onions, coriander and tomatoes.
Wasakaka is a similar sauce to pebre and is used in the Dominican Republic. The noticeable thing about the sauce is that it has a hint of lime or sour orange juice in it.
What Makes It So Spicy And Hot?
Even though the main ingredient for Pebre is chilli, it contains other spicy ingredients as well. Generally, the way of making Pebre is to mix red chilli pepper paste, fresh chilli peppers and a few cilantro leaves in a stone mortar and pestle.
The mixing method gives out the aromatic flavours of the mixture so that it can fully utilise its spiciness when it comes into contact with food.
Usually, people eat Pebre with sandwiches or French bread roll. Just a dip of it is more than enough to give you a numbing tongue. Sometimes, people dip their grilled meats in Pebre as well.
Where To Find Pebre?
Pebre is a type of sauce or condiment. Therefore it is relatively easy to find in any European restaurants in your community.
If it is difficult to find in your area, it may be a good idea to make it on your own. Traditionally, people use a stone mortar and pestle, however, you may blend the ingredients to make them into a smooth paste.
It is simple and easy to make, so you can use it as a dipping sauce for most of the dishes. You can even try it with satay!
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