How to Make Chili Oil (Chili Oil Recipe)

Homemade Chili Oil Recipe

I use chili oils for all sorts of recipes. They're pretty standard in certain parts of the world. They figure prominently in Chinese and Japanese cooking, and in many parts of Asia, although the Italians enjoy their own version as well.

There are many great brands on the market, but I find it best to make my own when I need a small batch, or even to give as a gift, and to really customize what I'm looking for.

Making chili oil from scratch is incredibly easy, and it's also fun to make your own variations with flavors you'll never find anywhere else.

What is Chili Oil?

Chili oil is made from vegetable oil that has been infused with chili peppers of choice. You can use any type of chili pepper, from mild to superhot peppers. Other ingredients are sometimes included.

You can use most types of vegetable oil, though a neutral oil is ideal for highlighting the chili pepper flavor.

Let's discuss how to make chili oil, shall we?

Homemade Chili Oil Ingredients

You only need two ingredients to make chili oil:

• Oil.
• Chili Flakes or Crushed Dried Chilies. You can also make it with fresh chilies.

I like to include a pinch of salt with mine, as well as a small amount of other preferred dried seasonings. More on that below.

Best Oil for Making Chili Oil

Any neutral oil is best for making homemade chili oil. Peanut oil, canola oil, corn oil, avocado oil, or a simple vegetable oil make the best chili oil with real chili flavor. I do not recommend oils with stronger flavors, such as olive oil, sesame oil, or coconut oil, as they can affect the flavor of your final oil.

They can be used, however, depending on your final flavor preferences and preferred application.

How to Make Chili Oil - the Recipe Method

First, gather up the following ingredients:

• 1 cup canola oil – or any neutral oil such as peanut oil
• 3 tablespoons crushed dried peppers 
• Dash of salt if desired

Prepare Your Chili Flakes & Spices. Add the chili flakes and your additional spices to a heat proof bowl. Mix well.

Heat the Oil. Heat the oil over medium high heat in a small pot. Do not allow the oil to smoke. If it smokes, remove it from the heat to reduce the temperature.

Mix the Hot Oil & Chili Flakes + Spices. Pour the hot oil carefully over the chili flakes. It will sizzle up nicely. Mix well. Cool and strain if desired.

Transfer to a glass container. Use immediately or store.

BOOM! Done! Super easy, isn't it? Soon you'll be making chili oils of your own and drizzling it over anything and everything.

Storage Information

Homemade chili oil can last for 2-3 months when stored in an airtight container in a cool dark place at room temperature, and even longer in the refrigerator, though shelf life can vary depending on ingredients used.

What Other Ingredients Can Be Used to Make Chili Oil?

Other ingredients might include granulated garlic, white pepper, salt or msg, cayenne pepper, paprika or other chili powders, cinnamon, shallots, peppercorns, Sichuan peppercorns (for a Sichuan style or Chinese chili oil), ginger, soy sauce, sesame seed, bay leaves, star anise, crushed red pepper flakes, and so much more.

You can essentially infuse your oil with any number of ingredients and creative combinations. Feel free to dream up your own personal creation.

Different Types of Chili Oil

You can make many different types of chili oil, depending on the ingredients used to infuse the oil. Possibilities include:

• Chinese Chili Oil. Use Chinese chili peppers or Sichuan chili flakes, along with Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon stick, and Chinese vinegar or black vinegar.
• Japanese Chili Oil. Use gochugaru and shichimi togarashi to make Rayu (Japanese Chili Oil).
• Calabrian Chili. Use Calabrian chili peppers to infuse the oil.
• Garlic Chili. Use garlic and spicy chili flakes.
• Nashville Hot Sauce. Nashville hot sauce is essentially a hot oil infused with cayenne and other spices.

There are many, many possibilities to explore your creativity.

Chili Oil with Crispy Bits

You can also use fresh ingredients, such as minced garlic, ginger root, minced shallot, and minced hot chili peppers to make chili oil with crispy bits, which is very popular today.

See my Chili Crisp Recipe (Hot Chili Oil with Crispy Bits) to learn how to make it.

Serving Suggestions for Chili Oil

You can serve the resulting oil as a condiment or stir it into a variety of dishes, like stir fries, chili oil noodles, dressings, drizzles, gyoza sauce, and more. I personally love it for spicing up ramen noodles or drizzling over fried eggs.

You can keep the chili flakes and spices in the oil and serve it that way, or strain and serve only the oil.

The dried peppers that eventually sink to the bottom of the oil are called the “sludge,” and can be served on their own in a variety of applications.

Try Some of my Other Infusion Recipes

• How to Make Hot Honey
• How to Infuse Alcohol with Chili Peppers
• Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water
• Chili Crisp