Easy Chili Oil Recipe: A Flavor Explosion with Simple Ingredients

What could be more satisfying than a warm, flavorful drizzle of chili oil that adds the perfect touch of heat to your dishes? The iconicinfused oil with the fiery essence of chili flakes and aromatic Indian spices, creating a condiment that’s designed to deliver a mouthwatering experience in every drop.

Chili oil, a staple in many Asian cuisines, is more than just a condiment; it's a burst of flavor and heat that can elevate any dish. Made by infusing oil with dried chili peppers and spices, it's perfect as adumpling sauce orto add a spicy kick to noodles, stir-fries, marinades, breakfast scrambles, grilled vegetables, meats, pizza, pasta, and even salads. It's a key ingredient in famous Chinese foods like Dan Dan Noodles and Mapo Tofu, where its bold heat takes the flavors to the next level. Whether you like it mild or extra hot, it is customizable, so get ready to add excitement to your meals. In this blog, we’ll create an easy chili oil recipe that you can incorporate into your everyday cooking.

Easy Chili Oil Recipe

This recipe, featuring our premium Indian spices, coconut sugar, and Himalayan pink salt, delivers a pure experience of aromatic, warm spices that will make your taste buds tingle as you prepare it. The blend  ofred pepper flakes, garlic,  ginger, peppercorns and other flavorful ingredients creates a tantalizing aroma that will have you eagerly waiting to enjoy your homemade chili oil. It’s the perfect addition to any dish, bringing heat and depth of flavor that will leave you craving more!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup vegetable oil 
• 3 tablespoons Pride of India’s Red pepper flakes
• Pride of India’s Spices: 
• 1 tablespoon Coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon Ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon Minced ginger
• 1/2 tablespoon Cinnamon powder
• Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
• ½ tbsp soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Pride of India’s coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon Pride of India’s Unhulled sesame seeds

Directions

1. Heat the Oil:

• In a saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat, making sure not to let it burn.

2. Combine Ingredients:

• In a heatproof bowl or jar, combine the red chili flakes, minced garlic, minced ginger, coriander powder, ground black pepper, cinnamon powder, coconut sugar, Himalayan salt, soy sauce and sesame seeds.

3. Pour Hot Oil:

• Carefully pour the hot oil over the spice mixture in the bowl or jar. It  will sizzle as it infuses with the spices and release aromatic flavors.

4. Let it Infuse:

• Allow the mixture to cool completely at room temperature.
• After infusing, your spicy condiment will be ready to use! Drizzle it over any dish that you wish for an extra burst of spice and flavor. Enjoy the pure spiciness and depth of flavor in every bite.

Here are some tips to customize your chili oil:

1. Add Fried Onions- Shallow fry onions until they turn light brown for an added layer of sweetness and crunch in your condiment.
2. Toast and Grind Spices- Toast dried chili peppers and whole spices like black peppercorns, Sichuan peppercorns, coriander seeds, and fennel seeds, then grind them or use them whole to infuse the oil for a more flavorful base.
3. Substitute Sichuan Peppercorns- Sichuan peppercorns add a unique numbing flavor that complements the heat from the chili flakes. You can replicate this flavor by using a combination of black pepper and coriander seeds. Adjust the ratio to your preference.
4. Consume Within a Week-For the freshest flavor, it is better to use it within a week.
5. Soy Sauce Substitute- If you prefer a tangy twist, you can substitute soy sauce with vinegar in your chili mix.
6. Add Extra Spice- For an extra spicy kick, mix in red chili powder along with crushed red chili flakes to ramp up the heat.
7. Straining for Clarity-After infusing the oil with whole spices, strain it to remove the spices and use.
8. Best Oil Choices- Use neutral oils such as sesame oil, corn oil, peanut oil, or canola oil. As these oils have high smoke points and allow the spices to infuse without overpowering the flavor.
9. Adjust the Spice Level- Feel free to tweak the spiciness of your chili oil! If you prefer more heat, simply add more dried chili flakes.
10. Adding Sugar- You can add finely ground rock sugar or coconut sugar to balance out the heat.
11. Add Flavor Variations- Take your chili recipes to the next level by incorporating extra flavors. For example, add a few bay leaves during infusion for a subtle herbal note, or experiment with ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoning salts for more additions.

This chili oil recipe is made purely from simple pantry staples, and with just a little patience, you can create a versatile spicy condiment that adds depth and heat to any dish.

Perfectly pair this chili oil with Pan seared Crab Cakes or Baked Brie for a satisfying experience that will elevate your meal. And don't forget to grab your New Year Box of the Month, where you'll receive premium pantry essentials to make your cooking and condiment creations even more delightful!