Homemade Chinese Chili Oil

Homemade Chili Oil is easier than you think! This Chinese Chili Oil tastes just like the restaurant version but is made with good ingredients!

You need to make this homemade chili oil pronto!

It’s just way toooo easy and provides instant hot-sauce gratification. Meaning it’s ready in 5 minutes, done.

No simmering, no layering, no additional anything. Yes, you should cool it but if you want to douse your food with hot hot sauce, that’s your business.

Store-bought condiments can be such a problem. It seems like there are two large camps: one where the condiments are affordable but filled with refined sugar, preservatives, artificial colors, additives or even worse – MSG and one where the condiments are made of pristine ingredients, particularly difficult to find and so ridiculously expensive that purchasing said condiments is equivalent to say, getting a manicure.

I like to use this to add heat to Asian recipes, take-out, sauces and even on eggs!

What is Chinese Chili Oil?

Chinese chili oil is also called red oil in China. It is a condiment that is made using a combination of seasonings such as red pepper, Sichuan peppercorn, and sometimes other spices like ginger.

These seasonings are combined in a base of High-heat cooking oil. Chili Oil comes together into a perfectly spicy sauce that goes great on any dish that needs an extra kick.

Ingredients To Make Chili Oil

This recipe does require a few unique ingredients that you might not be able to pick up with your other everyday groceries at your local supermarket. Thankfully we live in an age where almost anything can be bought online, so you can easily find almost all of these ingredients on Amazon.

We like to use a mix of high-heat cooking oils to perfect the flavor and texture. Just avocado oil had a bitter taste. Just coconut oil solidified at room temperature and imparted a coconut taste on our dishes.

• Whole dried Hot Thai Chiles
• Szechuan peppercorns
• Organic virgin coconut oil
• Avocado oil (or Peanut Oil or Light Olive Oil)
• Kosher salt

How To Make Chinese Chili Oil

This is the homemade condiment for those of you scared to make your own condiments. It’s super easy (as long as you have a blender or food processor) and takes minutes.

Just follow these step by step instructions with easy to follow process photos and you’ll have an amazing homemade chili oil in no time.

1. Place whole dried chilies in a bowl of a food processor along with Szechuan peppercorns.

2. Process for 3 to 4 minutes until chilies are broken up into small pieces.

3. Combine coconut oil and avocado oil in a small saucepan and heat on medium until coconut oil is melted (if solid) or oil starts to get hot.

4. Add processed spices and cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes until peppercorns turn just a shade darker.
5. Remove from heat, add a pinch of salt, stir to combine and let cool.
6. Once cool, transfer to a glass storage container with a lid. Store in a cool, dark cabinet and Enjoy!

Tips For The Best Homemade Chili Oil

• If you don’t want to use either avocado oil, I recommend using either peanut oil or light olive oil.
• You can usually find Whole Dried Chinese or Thai Chilies in bulk or in 1-ounce or 3.5-ounce packages in the grocery store. I really like India Tree Thai Hot Chilies (Santaka Type).
• Szechuan Peppercorns used to be hard to find but now they are relatively easy. Penzey’s Spices carries small amounts and most Asian grocery stores and spice shops have them in stock.
• Pamela Bolig from Bolig Photography took the main (aka not the in-process shots) photos. This one was a challenge and we both learned so much. Then we made scrambled eggs with kale and avocado and topped it with this chili oil. Not a bad morning 🙂

Gluten-Free Asian Recipes

Here are some recipes you will want to use this Homemade Chili Oil on:

Singapore Rice Noodles

Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup

Low Carb Wonton(less) Soup

Whole30 Egg Roll in a Bowl

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli

Easy Chicken Stir Fry

Paleo Pepper Steak

Beef Chow Fun

Turmeric Fried Rice with Beef

Chicken and Asparagus Cauliflower Fried Rice

Mango Shrimp

Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!

Homemade Chinese Chili Oil

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 10 mins

 

Homemade Chili Oil is easier than you think! This Chinese Chili Oil tastes just like the restaurant version but is made with good ingredients!

Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Asian, Chinese

Keyword: easy homemade chili oil recipe, how to make chinese chili oil, how to make homemade chinese oil, whole30 condiments

Servings: 48 servings

Calories: 41 kcal

Author: Alyssa Brantley

5 from 8 votes

Print

Ingredients

• 1 ounce whole dried Hot Thai Chiles
• 1/2 Tablespoon Szechuan peppercorns
• 1/2 cup organic virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 cup avocado oil or light olive oil
• 1 pinch kosher salt

Instructions

1. Place whole dried chilies in bowl of food processor along with szechuan peppercorns. Process for 3 to 4 minutes until chilies are broken up into small pieces.

2. Combine coconut oil and avocado oil in a small saucepan and heat on medium until coconut oil is melted (if solid) or oil starts to get hot.

3. Add processed spices and cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes until peppercorns turn just a shade darker.

4. Remove from heat, add a pinch of salt, stir to combine and let cool.
5. Once cool, transfer to a glass storage container with a lid. Store in a cool, dark cabinet and Enjoy!

NOTES:

• If you don't want to use either avocado oil, I recommend using either peanut oil or light olive oil.
• You can usually find Whole Dried Chinese or Thai Chilies in bulk or in 1-ounce or 3.5-ounce packages in the grocery store. I really like India Tree Thai Hot Chilies (Santaka Type).
• Szechuan Peppercorns used to be hard to find but now they are relatively easy. Penzey's Spices carries small amounts and most Asian grocery stores and spice shops have them in stock.
• Pamela Bolig from Bolig Photography took the main (aka not the in-process shots) photos. This one was a challenge and we both learned so much. Then we made scrambled eggs with kale and avocado and topped it with this chili oil. Not a bad morning 🙂

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Chinese Chili Oil

Amount Per Serving (1 Teaspoon)

Calories 41 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Potassium 12mg0%

Vitamin A 155IU3%

Vitamin C 0.2mg0%

Calcium 1mg0%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.

Recipe Adapted From: Paleo Chinese Chili Oil from Ancestral Chef

UPDATE NOTES: This Chinese Chili Oil was originally posted in August 2013 and was updated in February 2020 with new photos, better instructions, and more helpful information.