Chilli Oil (Chinese Takeaway Style)
Aromatic and spicy, this homemade chilli oil is perfect to pep up your favourite rice and noodle dishes, as well as being a fiery addition to soups and broths.
If you’re a fan of spicy food, it’s more than likely you have a jar (or jars) of chilli oil in the fridge. Smoky, aromatic and spicy, a good chilli oil pairs with so many different dishes and is well worth having to hand. This homemade chilli oil takes just a few minutes to put together using simple ingredients, and can be adjusted to suit your own tastes or spice levels.
Love Chinese takeaway style recipes?
You can find more in my cookbook The Chinese Takeaway Secret.
Ingredients For Chinese Takeaway Style Chilli Oil
This simple chilli oil combines some aromatic and fiery spices with seasoning and sesame seeds, bloomed with hot sunflower oil.
- Szechuan Pepper
- Dried Chilli Flakes
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Mild Chilli Powder
- Chinese 5-Spice
- Sesame Seeds
- Sea Salt
- MSG
- Sunflower Oil
How To Make Chinese Takeaway Style Chilli Oil
Making this fiery aromatic chilli oil is so easy. First, the spices and seasonings are combined in a heat-safe bowl. Next, oil is heated and poured carefully over the spices in a dramatic bloom of flavour and aromas.
Step 1: Spices & Seasoning
In a large heat-safe bowl, add the spices and seasonings. Mix briefly and set aside.
Step 2: Oil
Heat the oil slowly over a medium heat until it reaches around 150C.
Step 3: Bloom
Carefully pour the hot oil over the prepared spices. Stir well for 20 seconds then set the chilli oil aside to cool completely. Mix well once more, transfer to a covered sterilised jar or food-safe container and set aside in the fridge until needed.
Chinese Takeaway Style Chilli Oil Recipe Tips
Hot, But Not Too Hot
When making chilli oil, try to ensure your hot oil is around 150C – this is a good temperature to fully bloom the spices and bring out their flavours, whilst avoiding the risk of burning anything.
Oil Be Using This Later
Homemade chilli oil keeps well in the fridge in a sealed food safe jar or container for up to 2 weeks.
Mind Numbingly Good
Szechuan peppercorns combined with fiery chilli provides something known as the mala sensation, creating a numbing feeling in the mouth.
Chilli Oil (Chinese Takeaway Style)
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon ground Szechuan pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mild chilli powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon MSG
- 150 millilitres sunflower oil
Instructions
Spices & Seasoning
- In a large heat-safe bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon ground Szechuan pepper, 2 teaspoons dried chilli flakes, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon mild chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice, 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon MSG. Mix briefly and set aside.
Oil
- Heat 150 millilitres sunflower oil over a medium heat until it reaches around 150C.
Bloom
- Carefully pour the hot oil over the prepared spices. Mix well for 20 seconds. Set aside to cool completely before transferring to a sterilised jar or food safe container. Set aside in the fridge until needed.
Nutrition
Chinese Takeaway Style Chilli Oil Recipe FAQ
How long does homemade chilli oil keep?
Homemade chilli oil keeps well in a sterilised jar or food-safe container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Can I make chilli oil without Szechuan pepper?
You can, and it will be delicious! But Szechuan pepper offers something more than many ingredients, in that it elevates and enhances the other spices in the chilli oil to make them more flavourful and fiery. If you can source Szechuan pepper it’s definitely worth including it.
How spicy is this chilli oil?
This is a medium level spiced chilli oil. You can adjust the heat levels by using more or less chilli flakes and / or chilli powder.
What can I use chilli oil with?
A drizzle of chilli oil is a delightfully spicy and aromatic way to elevate almost any takeaway style rice or noodle dish. Soups and stir fries also benefit from a little touch of chilli oil, and it’s a delicious addition to dips and dressings for gyoza.
Love Chinese takeaway style recipes?
You can find more in my cookbook The Chinese Takeaway Secret.
