Chilies

Chilies (cabe) are used throughout Indonesia. The commonly-used fresh green and red Asian finger-length chilies are moderately hot. Tiny red, green or yellow-orange bird’s-eye chilies (cabe rawit) are very hot, designed for strong palates. Dried chilies are usually cut into lengths and soaked in warm water to soften before use. They have a very different flavor from fresh chilies. To reduce the heat, discard some or all of the chili seeds before preparation.