A Simple Javanese Dipping Sauce

Mention Indonesian saté and most Westerners will think of peanut sauce. Equally beloved in Indonesia is this simple dipping sauce made at the table by the eater, who customizes it by adding the preferred proportions of lime juice, fried shallots, and chiles. Sweet and salty, tart and hot, smooth yet crisp, with bites of fried shallot, the sauce launches a bold assault on the taste buds. And it goes without saying that any food you make and mix at the table is fun food. Serve as a dip with a