MOF Sambal Named 2026 Good Food Awards Finalist

MOF Sambal Named 2026 Good Food Awards Finalist: A Singaporean-Inspired Chili Sauce Made in the Pacific Northwest

We’re thrilled to share that MOF Sambal by Sibeiho has been named a 2026 Good Food Awards Finalist.

The Good Food Awards celebrate products that combine exceptional flavor, responsible sourcing, and craft production. For us, this recognition means a lot—not only because of the flavors we love, but because of the story behind this sambal chili sauce.

What started as a limited edition experiment is fast becoming one of our most distinctive sauces. Shop our award-winning MOF Sambal.

What Is Sambal? A Southeast Asian Chili Sauce

If you’re wondering what sambal is, it’s a staple Southeast Asian chili sauce known for its bold heat, bright acidity, and deep umami flavor. Sambals are widely used in Singaporean, Indonesian, and Malaysian cooking, where they bring intensity and balance to everyday dishes. 

At Sibeiho, we make small-batch Singaporean sambal chili sauces made from our family recipes and what we grew up eating, all designed to bring instant flavor to home cooking.

Our MOF Sambal was inspired by Sambal Hijau, a vibrant green chili sauce often paired with the Indonesian dish Ayam Penyet or Ikan Penyet—deep-fried turmeric chicken or fish traditionally eaten with white jasmine rice—which later made its way to Singapore and became a popular hawker and casual dining favorite.

This sambal cuts through the richness of the fried dish with super bright tangy heat and freshness.

Explore our full range of Singaporean sambals.

A Singaporean × Pacific Northwest Sambal

The story of MOF Sambal begins with a bumper chili harvest.

One season, our partner farmers near Hood River, Oregon had an exceptional crop and sent us more chili peppers than we had planned for. Rather than scaling back, we took the opportunity to experiment.

Traditionally, Sambal Hijau is made with green tomatoes. But living and cooking in the Pacific Northwest, we’re constantly inspired by what we find at local farmers markets. When we discovered beautiful fresh tomatillos, it sparked an idea.

What if we created a Singaporean-inspired sambal using Pacific Northwest ingredients?

The result became MOF Sambal—a small-batch vegan chili sauce made in Portland, Oregon, with bright acidity from tomatillos and layered heat from fresh chilies.

It’s a Southeast Asian chili sauce with a Pacific Northwest twist.

How to Use Sambal: Easy Serving Ideas

One of the questions we hear most is how to use sambal. The answer: almost anywhere you want a boost of bold, spicy flavor.

Here are a couple of our favorite ways to use MOF Sambal.

Peach or Tomato Sambal Salad

This simple summer dish became a favorite during farmers market season.

Ingredients:

• Ripe peaches (or fresh tomatoes)

• 1 tbsp MOF Sambal

• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• Furikake for garnish

Toss everything together and finish with furikake. The combination of sweet fruit, tangy vinegar, and spicy sambal creates an incredibly refreshing dish.

Falafel Dipping Sauce

MOF Sambal also works beautifully as a spicy dipping sauce for falafel. The bright heat cuts through the richness of the fried chickpea patties.

It’s also delicious with:

• roasted vegetables

• grilled seafood

• rice bowls

• eggs

• noodles

Anywhere you want bold Southeast Asian chili sauce flavor.

From Chili Harvest to Good Food Awards Finalist

What began as a limited-edition sambal inspired by a surplus harvest has grown into something much bigger.

Being named a Good Food Awards Finalist is an incredible honor and reflects what we care most about at Sibeiho:

• supporting regional farmers

• celebrating Southeast Asian flavors

• creating small-batch artisan sauces

• making it easy for home cooks to bring bold flavor to everyday meals

Sometimes the best products start with simply asking:

What can we create with what the land gives us?

And we’re so glad this one did. 🌶️ Learn more about the story behind Sibeiho.