Living Harvest Gardens
Sauce

Chili Infused Oil

Warm neutral oil poured over dried chili flakes and aromatics for a drizzle of heat on anything.

  • Serves12
  • Prep10 min
  • Cook10 min
  • LevelEasy
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup neutral oil
  • 3 tablespoons dried chili flakes
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 pod star anise
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

  1. Put the chili flakes and salt in a small heatproof bowl.
  2. Warm the oil with the garlic, star anise, and bay leaf over medium-low heat.
  3. Heat until the garlic turns golden and the oil reaches about 325°F (160°C).
  4. Fish out the garlic, star anise, and bay leaf.
  5. Pour the hot oil carefully over the chili flakes so they sizzle and bloom.
  6. Let the oil cool, then store it in a jar in the fridge.

Notes

Dried chilies bloom their heat and color into warm oil, releasing a deep red that fresh peppers never give. A spoonful is fire on almost anything — eggs, noodles, dumplings, a bowl of rice. Keep the oil just hot enough to sizzle the flakes without scorching them, or the flavor turns bitter.

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