Main Course · Dinner · Asian ·

Terong Balado

Name: Terong Balado
Prep time: 27 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 107 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Eggplants, 2 large, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds; Salt, 1 tsp; Red Chilies, 5, stems removed; Shallots, 2, peeled; Garlic Cloves, 3, peeled; Tomato, 1 medium, quartered; Sugar, 1 tsp; Salt, 1/4 tsp; Vegetable Oil, 2 tbsp; Vegetable Oil, 1/4 cup

A flavorful and spicy Indonesian dish featuring tender eggplant coated in a rich sambal sauce.

4.7(397 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 20, 2025

Terong Balado — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

27 min

Cook

1 h 20 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Eggplant

For the Spicy Sambal

For Frying

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 230 kcal
Protein: 1.5 g
Carbs: 12 g
Fat: 21 g
Fiber: 5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 921 kcal
Protein: 6 g
Carbs: 48 g
Fat: 84 g
Fiber: 20 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Eggplants 2 large, sliced into 1/2 inch rounds	120	3	29	0	17
Salt 1 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Red Chilies 5, stems removed	20	1	5	0	1
Shallots 2, peeled	10	0	2	0	1
Garlic Cloves 3, peeled	13	1	3	0	0
Tomato 1 medium, quartered	22	1	5	0	1
Sugar 1 tsp	16	0	4	0	0
Salt 1/4 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Vegetable Oil 2 tbsp	240	0	0	28	0
Vegetable Oil 1/4 cup	480	0	0	56	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Eggplant

1
Slice and Salt
Slice the eggplant and sprinkle with 1 tsp of salt.
2
Rest the Eggplant
Let it sit for 15 minutes to draw out moisture.
3
Pat Dry
Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Making the Spicy Sambal

1
Blend Ingredients
In a blender, combine red chilies, shallots, garlic, and tomato.
Tip: Use fresh red chilies for the most vibrant flavor and color in the sambal.
2
Form a Paste
Blend until you achieve a smooth paste.
3
Fry the Paste
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the sambal paste.
Tip: Avoid overheating the oil; it should be gently sizzling. Pro Tip: Add a dash of lime juice to the sambal for an extra tangy flavor.

How to Make Terong Balado

Total time: 1 h 47 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Fry the Eggplant
Heat 1/4 cup of oil in a large pan and fry the eggplant slices until golden brown on both sides.
2
Combine and Coat
Reduce the heat and add the prepared sambal to the fried eggplant, tossing to coat evenly.
3
Simmer to Finish
Let the eggplant simmer in the sambal for 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.