How to Make Chinese Chilli Oil (aka Chinese Chilli Crisp)

Chinese Chilli oil recipe, called Chinese chili crisp in the US, is a delicious combination of oil and crispy bits that can be used as a condiment, a garnish and an ingredient.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Sichuan Chilli Oil LinsFood

What is Chinese Chilli Oil?

Chinese Chilli oil is a delicious, sometimes spicy, combination of oil and crispy bits that can be used as a condiment, a garnish and an ingredient.

The “crispy bits” that has resulted in the American trend of calling it chili crisp, can be just the chilli flakes or it can be nuts, seeds, onions, garlic, shrimp and dried anchovies.

I love my Chilli Crisp!

This chilli crisp is one of a few varieties of Chinese chilli oils we make at home. They last a good few months in the fridge, and so I always have at least a couple of them at hand. 

What differentiates today’s recipe from the others is the addition of Sichuan peppercorns and star anise, resulting in a slightly different final flavour, beside the spice. Click here more to read about Sichuan peppercorns.

You can find more chilli recipes on the Chilli Page on LinsFood.

Sichuan Chilli Oil Recipe

Our recipe today is pretty straightforward to make, mine has some chilli powder to the mix for depth, something you won’t find in store bought jars.

However, we do not cook the chilli powder nor the chilli flakes, as this will result in a burnt and bitter flavour. You’ll see.

All we do is:

  • simmer and steep some vegetable oil with a few ingredients – 15 minutes
  • then strain over more ingredients
  • store in a clean jar

That’s it.

Pouring hot oil on chilli flakes in Sichuan Chilli Oil

How to use this Sichuan Chilli Oil?

When you want to use it, give it a stir, then scoop out some of the oil, with all the bits; I have to warn you, you’ll get addicted very quickly! You could also just scoop out the oil, if you want, to drizzle or to use as a stir fry oil. With bits or without – completely up to you, depending on your mood and what you are using it for!

In so many different ways!

  • For one thing, it makes a very convenient condiment. As I cannot have a meal without some sort of spice, the Sichuan Chilli Oil makes a great flavour and spice enhancer at meal times, much like the sambal belacan does.
  • I also use it in stir fries. When a recipe calls for chillies or chilli paste, just use this Sichuan Chilli Oil, with the actual oil substituting the oil in your recipe. The result is a fabulous, deep and spicy dish.
  • I love to spice up mayo and aioli with this chilli oil, when using them as dips or in sandwiches.
  • Speaking of sandwiches, oh man, just lightly brush your chosen bread with a layer of this Sichuan Chilli Oil, whatever filling you have, and you’ll be in heaven!
  • As part of a marinade, it adds oomph to any baked or roast dish you’re planning. For eg, add a tablespoon (or more) of this to our Sichuan Roast Chicken, for an even spicier result.
  • And it is also the defining ingredient of a favourite Sichuan dish called Kou Shui Ji (aka Saliva Chicken), sometimes better known as the awful sounding Saliva Chicken!
Sichuan Chilli Oil
those are the crisps

If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!

And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood

Lin xx

How to Make Sichuan Chilli Oil at Home

Chinese Chilli oil recipe, called Chinese chili crisp in the US, is a delicious combination of oil and crispy bits that can be used as a condiment, a garnish and an ingredient.
4.98 from 150 votes
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Course: Condiments
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: chilli, sichuan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 12 (Makes about 1 and a quarter cups)
Calories: 193kcal
Author: Azlin Bloor

Ingredients

Ingredients A

  • 250 ml peanut or bland vegetable oil
  • 2.5 cm ginger, sliced
  • 2 star anise petals
  • a small piece cinnamon stick
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 5 dried whole Sichuan chillies or any other non smoked dried red chilli
  • 1 Tbsp Sichuan peppercorns or powder

Ingredients B

  • 5 Tbsp chilli flakes
  • 1 Tbsp hot chilli powder
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions

  • Cut the whole dried chillies in half, using a pair of scissors.
  • Place the oil, ginger, star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cut dried chillies and sichuan peppercorns in a saucepan and heat on medium-low heat.
  • When the oil comes to a simmer, lower the heat right down and simmer for 15 minutes.
  • While waiting, place the chilli flakes, chilli powder and salt into a bowl large enough to take the oil and set aside.
  • At the end of the 15 minutes, by which time the oil has had a chance to absorb all the aromas and flavours of the aromatics and spices, turn off the heat and leave to rest for 5 minutes on the hot hob.
  • Using a metal strainer (as the oil will still be hot), strain the oil into the bowl of chilli and salt mix and stir well with a metal or wooden spoon.
  • Taste and add more salt, if necessary.
  • Transfer to a sterile jar and when cooled to room temperature, store in the fridge for up to 6 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 90mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1191IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
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45 thoughts on “How to Make Chinese Chilli Oil (aka Chinese Chilli Crisp)”

  1. Do the chilis need to be dried? I have about a quarter pound of fresh picked bird’s eye chilis and would love to use them in this.

    1. The traditional Sichuan chilli oil uses dried chillies, but there is no reason why you can’t use fresh ones to make a chilli oil like this. I make different types of Chinese chilli oils using fresh chillies.

  2. Wow that’s pretty easy! I like this condiment and I always thought that it needs some sort of special skill to concoct it, but look at this, it’s pretty simple! Great!

  3. janine escolta

    Definitely my favorite. Had been wondering how to make the chilli oil.. and imagine my joy finding this website after many tries.

  4. This looks delicious and I love the fact that it will keep for a while in the fridge. My boyfriend needs chilli oil on everything so Ill have to make him some!

  5. Angela Milnes

    I’m so excited to find this recipe. I love the flavor of the chili oil at my favorite Chinese restaurant, but I’ve never been able to replicate it at home. I hope I’m able to find everything on your ingredient list. Thank you!

  6. My goodness there is a lot of spicy ingredients in this! I cannot eat spicy foods, but this is right up my husbands alley. I am going to show this to him cause I know he would love to make this oil for himself!

  7. Wendy Polisi

    I’m pretty sure that my husband will surely love this. I’ll make sure to make this one for.him.

  8. Oh my! I can imagine the smile on my family’s faces when I share this. We really love spicy foods or dips. This will be really good!

  9. Elizabeth O.

    My daughters and I enjoy spicy food and it would be nice to make homemade chili oil! I didn’t know that it wasn’t that difficult to make. Thanks for this one.

  10. Gotta love being able to make your own sauces! This is something I’ve never tried to do! Might have to try that out in the future for a nice kick or finishing touch to some meals that we make! This sounds like it would be a nice topper for tacos too!

  11. I’ve recently gotten into making homemade hot sauces so I’m definitely going to have to try this recipe. I love chilli oil on pasta and pizza

  12. The ingredients sounds delicious, especially the chili flakes, peanut oil, cinnamon stick, and ginger. I think this would be a great way to spice up a marinade for a roast!

  13. Thank you for the recipe. I have never heard of chilli oil and it makes so much sense because I am not one for chillis or anything remotely hot but the rest of my family just love it – so they can mix a bit in – and as you can make it up and store in the fridge I wont need to make it every time I cook.

  14. we do not familiar with chili food but this it sounds delicious taste, I am so curious to try it now, oil is always at home It will be great to change some time.

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