Crispy Chili Oil
This crispy chili oil is your new secret weapon for elevating any dish—think noodles, rice bowls, dumplings, stir-fries, and even avocado toast. Packed with layers of heat, umami, and crunch from toasted sesame, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, and peanuts, this oil adds that addictive bite you’ll want on everything. It’s easy to make, customizable, and stores beautifully for weeks.
Equipment
- Heat-proof glass jar with lid
- Medium saucepan
- Heatproof bowl (metal or glass)
- Fine mesh strainer
- Mixing spoon or spatula
- Chopping Board and Knife
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup red-chili flakes
- 4 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp crushed Sichuan peppercorns
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Small handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped (pat completely dry)
- Small handful spring-onion greens, thinly sliced (pat completely dry)
- 1/3 cup roasted peanuts, lightly crushed
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp fine salt
- 2 cups avocado oil (or another neutral, high-smoke-point oil such as light olive, high-oleic sunflower, or rice-bran)
- 3 tbsp light soy sauce
- 2 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
Instructions
- Combine dry mix In a heat-proof bowl (1 L/1 qt or larger) stir together the chili flakes, sesame seeds, Sichuan peppercorns, garlic, cilantro, spring onion, peanuts, sugar and salt.
- Heat the oil- Pour the oil into a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat until it reaches about 190 °C / 375 °F—hot and shimmering, with the first wisps of smoke.- No thermometer? Drop in a sesame seed; it should sizzle briskly but take 4–5 seconds to brown.
- Pour over the spices- Place the bowl on a heat-safe surface and slowly ladle or stream the hot oil over the spice mixture. The contents will bubble and crackle for 20–30 seconds. Gently stir until the sizzling subsides and everything is coated.
- Add liquid seasonings- Wait about 1 minute for the temperature to fall below boiling. Stirring constantly, drizzle in the soy sauce, then the rice vinegar. Expect a brief, mild sizzle.
- Cool and jar- Stir every minute or so until the mixture is just warm. Transfer to a clean 500 ml jar, making sure the solids are fully submerged in oil. Let it cool to room temperature, then seal.
Nutrition
Calories: 4751kcalCarbohydrates: 93gProtein: 41gFat: 493gSaturated Fat: 59gPolyunsaturated Fat: 84gMonounsaturated Fat: 328gSodium: 12149mgPotassium: 2987mgFiber: 50gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 35078IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 784mgIron: 28mg