Easy Aromatic Chinese Chili Oil: Bold, Fragrant & Homemade in Minutes
This easy Chinese chili oil is infused with garlic, ginger, and whole spices for deep aroma and balanced heat. Perfect for dumplings, noodles, soups, and more.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Ingredients
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½ cup Chinese chili flakes
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1 tsp salt
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1 pinch sugar
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½ tsp ground Sichuan peppercorns
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2 tsp sesame seeds (optional)
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1 cup neutral oil (canola, peanut, vegetable)
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4 garlic cloves, smashed
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1-inch ginger, sliced
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3 bay leaves
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3 star anise
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1 small cinnamon stick
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3 cloves
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1 tbsp whole Sichuan peppercorns
Instructions
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In a heatproof bowl, combine chili flakes, salt, sugar, sesame seeds, and ground peppercorns.
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In a saucepan, heat oil with garlic, ginger, bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and whole peppercorns over medium heat.
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Once garlic turns golden, remove from heat immediately.
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Carefully strain hot oil over chili mixture. Let sizzle and cool for 10 minutes.
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Stir to combine. Store in a clean jar once fully cooled.