More Than Our Story

Chili Crisp

Spicy, umami chili crunch.

Total Time: ~30 Minutes

Plant-Based

Ideal as a topping for noodles, rice or dumplings, or a spicy condiment for any dish!

Table of Contents

Inspiration

Perfect as a topping for noodles, rice, dumplings, vegetables, or as a condiment to add a spicy, savory kick to any dish chili crisp is having it’s time in the limelight, with celebrity chefs like David Chang of Momofuku fame even getting in on the action by offering their own take on the delicious, spicy, umami and versatile condiment. Made from a blend of chili peppers, oil, and other roasted ingredients like garlic, nuts and peppercorns, this is one spicy topper you’re not going to want to go without.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY:
Chili oil can be healthy in moderation as it contains capsaicin - a proven anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which can boost your metabolism - but it should be consumed sparingly as it's high in calories due to the oil content.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup vegetable oil

Aromatics

  • 2 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
  • 1” piece fresh ginger, coarsely chopped

Crunch Ingredients

  • 1 small shallot, finely minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1” piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup peanuts (optional)
  • 1 cup dried chili flakes (preferably Sichuan chili flakes)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • ¼ cup sesame seeds
  • 1 tbsp dried shrimp, finely chopped

DEVINE DUMPLINGS:
This is hands down my favorite condiment for enjoying with any dumpling or noodle dish!

Preparations

Making the Chili Oil:

  1. Prepare the Ingredients: Measure out all the ingredients and have them ready.
  2. Heat the Oil: In a small saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat until it’s shimmering but not smoking. Add the star anise, cinnamon stick, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, and garlic. Cook the aromatics, stirring occasionally, until the garlic becomes golden brown and fragrant, about 10-15 minutes (careful not to burn the garlic).
  3. Strain the Oil: Once the aromatics are done, remove the pan from the heat and strain the oil through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof bowl with the other ingredients. Discard the solids.

Building the Crunch and Flavor:

  1. Reheat Some Oil: In a small skillet, reheat a few tablespoons of the aromatic oil over medium heat until a chili flake sizzles when added to it.
  2. Build The Crunch: Add the shallot and cook until golden and crispy. Then add the minced garlic, ginger and chopped peanuts (if using), and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant and just starting to brown.
  3. Add the Spices: Reduce heat to low and stir in the dried chili flakes, sugar, salt and sesame oil and seeds. If using dried shrimp, add them now. Let the mixture cook gently for another 3-4 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Cool and Store:

  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the chili crunch cool completely.
  • Transfer the chili crunch to a clean, airtight jar. Store it in the refrigerator, where it will keep for several weeks.

Tips

  • The flavors will develop and improve over time.
  • The aromatics can be substituted – for example try using coarsely chopped lemongrass.
  • Experiment with additional flavors, such as brown sugar for a deeper sweetness.
Picture of Daniel

Daniel

Daniel is an extremely curious person, a wealth of random knowledge and facts. Extremely passionate about a vast array of interests ranging from health to history, science to athletics, everything culinary and the list goes on. Trust us, you would want to be on his team for Trivial Pursuit. Daniel is also years into his battle with brain cancer. He experienced a seizure while on a Zoom call at work in late 2020 and quite literally, his life changed within minutes. After his operation he started to talk about his story but had always known it was more than just him. From then, More Than Our Story became a PROJECT that has evolved into the starting point it is today.

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