SICHUAN CHILI OIL

As the COVID-19 spreads through the world, we’re increasingly social distancing ourselves and spending a lot more time in our homes than we used to.

It seemed like everyone I knew started cooking and baking. My Instagram feed is filled with their homemade food. I think cooking is not just for sustenance but for comfort and entertainment, too.

During this time, I made my homemade chili oil, and it’s so delicious. I’m so happy and it’s worth it to make your own chili oil 😊.

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Ingredients:
1.5 cup cooking oil (any kind, however canola oil is the best option).

Dry ingredients:
4 star anise
1 cinnamon stick (I use powder)
3 bay leaves
3 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
8 cardamom pods (optional), cut it with scissors

Aromatic ingredients:
5 shallots, roughly choped
5 garlic, roughly choped
2 thumb size ginger pieces, sliced
2 spring onions, roughly choped

Chili mixture for the hot oil:
(Put it in a heat proof container)
1/2 cup Asian chili powder
3 tsp salt
1/4 cup Sesame seed
2 tbsp ground Sichuan peppercorns (optional)

Let’s cook:

1. Place the oil in a saucepan over low heat
2. Add the dry ingredients to the warm oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until it gently sizzle.
3. Then add in the aromatic ingredients, except the spring onion.
4. When the garlic is half brown, add the spring onion.
5. When the spring onion is golden brown, switch off the heat, remove/discard the ingredients from the oil.
6. Carefully strain the oil over the chili mixture
7. Stir and mix well
8. A spicy and tasty chili oil is done ✅

Tips:

• Getting 3 plates of all ingredients ready before cooking: the dry ingredients, the aromatic ingredients, the chili mixture.
• You can substitute shallots with red onion.
• Store this chili oil in an airtight container, it will last in the refrigerator for 1 year.
• You can use this chili oil for cooking, or for noodle sauce, or as Chinese salad sauce, or as a dipping sauce, or to mix it with your fried rice, anything everything.
• You can buy the dry ingredients online from Amazon 😁

For more of my recipes, please check TITIEN’S KITCHEN.

Love,
Titien 😊