Name: Easy Garlic Chili Oil
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 head garlic; 0.7 oz fresh chiles (, I used siling labuyo (see notes for dried chiles)); 1/2 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder (optional, see notes); 2 tsp gochugaru or Korean chili powder (see notes); 1 tsp sugar; 1 dried bay leaf; 1 dried star anise; 7-8 whole cloves (, the spice (optional)); 1/2 tsp salt (or more, to taste); 3/4 cup neutral oil

How to Make Garlic Chili Oil

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One of my favourite condiments to make is chili oil because I love being able to customise what goes in to suit my taste. This one is an Easy Garlic Chili Oil with delicious bits of garlic and chiles soaked in an aromatic oil. I simply pour the hot oil into the garlic and chiles so they don’t crisp up the same way as cooking them down in oil (see my homemade chili garlic sauce/crisp recipe here).

HOW TO USE AND ENJOY THIS GARLIC CHILI OIL

You can use this garlic chili oil for anything and everything — think dipping sauces, over noodles, stir-fries, tofu dishes, salads, and more!

Steamed Dumplings with the Ultimate Dipping Sauce

You can check out my dumpling dipping sauce recipe here, that’d be perfect with this chili oil!

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS CHILI OIL

garlic
fresh chiles (I used siling labuyo)
Chinese 5 spice powder
gochugaru or Korean chili powder
sugar

For the Oil

dried bay leaf
dried star anise
7-8 whole cloves (the spice)
salt
neutral oil

HOW TO MAKE THIS

For the chiles and garlic, you can mince or crush these. I roughly cut mine up using a pair of scissors and pounded these using a mortar and pestle. You can add yours to a food processor and process until minced.
Add the minced/processed garlic and chiles in a heat proof bowl or jar. Add in the 5 spice powder (if using), gochugaru or other chili powder.

Spices and oil: Over medium heat, add the spices and salt in a small sauce pan. Add in the neutral oil. Leave over medium heat for the oil to heat up.
Once small bubbles start to appear and you see the spices start to sizzle in the oil, you can lower the heat to low and keep it at a constant temperature to be sure the spices don’t burn.
Leave for around 15-20 minutes to allow the spices to slowly infuse the flavours in the oil. You can infuse the spices longer (up to 1 hour) for optimal flavour. Ensure that the salt dissolves in the oil.

After the spices infuse in the oil, increase the heat back to medium or medium high for 1-2 minutes. The oil should be very hot at this point. To test out the heat, you can add a small piece of garlic or chili and it should immediately sizzle in the oil when added.
You can remove the spices in the oil or prepare a sieve over your bowl/bottle. Turn off the heat and remove the pan.
Immediately pour the hot oil over the chiles, garlic, and seasoning. Enjoy the sizzle! Taste your chili oil and feel free to season with more salt, if desired.Mix well and allow to cool completely before covering the jar.

STORAGE TIPS

To store, you can refrigerate it to prolong shelf life and just scoop some out at room temperature since the oils can solidiy. This is best enjoyed within a month.
I go through this so fast though so it never really lasts that long. Be sure that all the chiles and garlic pieces are submerged in the oil.Also ensure that the jar is sealed tight.

YOU CAN ENJOY THIS CHILI OIL WITH:

Easy Garlic Chili Oil

5 from 2 votes

One of my favourite condiments to make is chili oil because I love being able to customise what goes in to suit my taste.

You can use this for anything and everything — think dipping sauces, over noodles, stir-fries, tofu dishes, salads, and more!

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Course Condiments, Dips, Sauces

Cuisine Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino

Servings cup

Calories 1561 kcal

Ingredients

1 head garlic
0.7 oz fresh chiles , I used siling labuyo (see notes for dried chiles)
1/2 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder optional, see notes
2 tsp gochugaru or Korean chili powder see notes
1 tsp sugar

Oil

1 dried bay leaf
1 dried star anise
7-8 whole cloves , the spice (optional)
1/2 tsp salt or more, to taste
3/4 cup neutral oil

Instructions

You can watch the video for a complete step-by-step.
For the chiles and garlic, you can mince or crush these. I roughly cut mine up using a pair of scissors and pounded these using a mortar and pestle. You can add yours to a food processor and process until minced.
Add the minced/processed garlic and chiles in a heat proof bowl or a clean dry jar. Add in the 5 spice powder (if using), gochugaru or other chili powder.
Spices and oil: Over medium heat, add the spices and salt in a small sauce pan. Add in the neutral oil. Leave over medium heat for the oil to heat up and come to temperature, around 120C. Once small bubbles start to appear and you see the spices start to sizzle in the oil, you can lower the heat to low and keep it at a constant temperature to be sure the spices don't burn.
Leave for around 20-30 minutes to allow the spices to slowly infuse the flavours in the oil. You can infuse the spices longer (up 40 mins) for optimal flavour. Ensure that the salt dissolves in the oil.
After the spices infuse in the oil, increase the heat back to medium or medium high for 1-2 minutes. The oil should be very hot at this point. To test out the heat, you can add a small piece of garlic or chili and it should immediately sizzle in the oil when added. Turn off the heat.
You can remove the spices in the oil or prepare a sieve over your bowl/bottle.
Be careful with the hot oil.
Pour the hot oil over the chiles, garlic, and seasoning. Enjoy the sizzle! Taste your chili oil and feel free to season with more salt, if desired.
Mix well and allow to cool completely before covering the jar.

Storage Tips

To store, you can refrigerate it to prolong shelf life and just scoop some out at room temperature since the oils can solidiy. This is best enjoyed within a month.
I go through this so fast though so it never really lasts that long. Be sure that all the chiles and garlic pieces are submerged in the oil.
Also ensure that the jar is sealed tight.
Be sure to use a clean spoon or utensil every time you scoop some chili oil to prevent contamination and spoilage.

How to Enjoy

Use this with your favourite dipping sauces, noodles, stir-fries, salads, cold tofu, and more!

WATCH Video

Notes

Neutral oil

I recommend to use neutral oil that won’t overpower the overall flavour of this chili oil. Grapeseed, vegetable, peanut oils would be great.

5 Spice Powder

For the 5 spice powder, you can substitute this with a pinch each of cinnamon powder and ground white pepper. Szechuan pepper powder would be a great too, if you have some! Or if you have whole ones, you can crush some.

Chili powder

I use gocghugaru or Korean chili powder that’s mild in spice and has a sweet note. You can use other chill powder.

Can I use dried chiles?

Yes! I recommend to mix up your chiles if you have access to a variety. I really love to use gochugaru or Korean chili pepper because of its bright red hue and its hint of sweetness.

NUTRITIONAL INFO

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This Post Has 2 Comments

Susan 5 Feb 2022 Reply

Delicious!! I tripled to recipe so I could add it to my marinades for tofu. I do love my hot, spicy food!!
1. Jeeca 6 Feb 2022 Reply
  
  Glad you liked it Susan ◡̈ love spicy food too!!

Hello there!

I’m Jeeca, a 24-year old vegan who’s passionate about creating easy yet tasty and flavour-packed vegan recipes. I share a lot of Asian food inspired by those I grew up enjoying.

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