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3 min readShallots and Garlic: The Quiet Backbone
Flavor role, buying tips, storage, and substitutions for Balinese cooking
Bumbu Bali Editorial
Culinary education team · Bali, Indonesia
Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Flavor role in Balinese cooking
Balinese pastes are shallot-forward. Garlic supports. Getting the ratio right prevents harshness.
How to buy and store
- Small red shallots preferred
- Slice evenly for sambal
- Do not burn in paste frying
Smart substitutions
- Onion can stand in with flavor loss
Where it shows up
- All base pastes
- Sambal matah
- Fried toppings
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