Garlic Chili Crisp

Chili crisp is a Chinese condiment made with chilies, oil, and aromatics. It is usually crunchy and has a complex flavor profile that is both spicy and savory. Chili crisp can be used as a dipping sauce, a condiment, or a cooking oil.

There are many different versions of chili crisp available, but one of the most popular is Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp. Lao Gan Ma is a Chinese company that has been making chili crisp for over 20 years - their chili crisp is made with a blend of chilies, peanuts, soybeans, and other spices. It has a strong, spicy flavor that is balanced by the sweetness of the peanuts and soybeans. The recipe below doesn’t include peanuts or soybeans but derives sweetness from a mix of sugar, cinnamon and star anise pods.

Chili crisp is easy to make, adds a delicious flavor profile to many different dishes and can be made in large batches that can keep for a long time. The recipe below yields roughly 1 cup of chili crisp.

Ingredients

For Simmering

Dry Mix

Step 1

Combine oil and simmering ingredients in a large pot or wok.

Step 2

Heat until a medium simmer is reached. Allow to simmer for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned, making sure to stir the mixture every few minutes.

Step 3

Prepare the dry mix in a heat proof bowl (pyrex, etc). If you don’t have a heatproof bowl you can use a pot on your stove top.

Step 4

With a strainer, seperate the oil from the browned shallots and garlic and remove the cinnamon sticks and star anise pods. Set aside for 2 minutes so that the garlic and shallots can crisp up further.

Step 5

Carefully pour the hot oil over the dry mixture and stir it enough to let the chilis cook slightly and become more fragrant.

Step 6

Combine everything, stir to get an even distribution and add to a mason jar or storage container.

Once you have made your own chili crisp, you can compare it to different versions of Lao Gan Ma. Tinkering with the amount of chilis and oil can give you a more spicy or less spicy version and give you a nice fragant cooking oil to skim off the top and use in other recipes. You will likely find that your homemade chili crisp has a more complex flavor profile and a more satisfying crunch. Here are some ideas to try:

On noodles Chili crisp is a classic topping for stir-fries, ramen, and other noodle dishes.

On eggs Chili crisp can be used to dress up eggs. Try adding it to scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or an omelet.

On avocado toast Chili crisp is a great way to add some heat and crunch to avocado toast. Spread some avocado on toast, then top with chili crisp and a squeeze of lime juice.

In dipping sauces Chili crisp can be used to make dipping sauces for a variety of foods, such as dumplings, spring rolls, or french fries. Combine chili crisp with your favorite dipping sauce, such as soy sauce, vinegar, or mayonnaise.

In marinades Chili crisp can be used to add umami to marinades for meat, poultry, or tofu. Combine chili crisp with your favorite marinade ingredients, such as soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.

In stir-fries Chili crisp can be used to add flavor and heat to stir-fries. Add it to the stir-fry at the end of cooking, along with any other desired toppings.

In soups Chili crisp can be used to add flavor and heat to soups. Stir it into the soup at the end of cooking, or add it to individual bowls as a topping.

On popcorn Chili crisp works great on popcorn - sprinkle some chili crisp and dive in with a spoon.