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.
- 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:
Chicken and Asparagus Cauliflower Fried Rice
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Homemade Chili Oil is easier than you think! This Chinese Chili Oil tastes just like the restaurant version but is made with good 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
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.
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.
Add processed spices and cook over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes until peppercorns turn just a shade darker.
- Remove from heat, add a pinch of salt, stir to combine and let cool.
- Once cool, transfer to a glass storage container with a lid. Store in a cool, dark cabinet and Enjoy!
- 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 🙂
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.
Why do you want to avoid canola or safflower oil. I’ve made a similar recipe with safflower.
peanut oil seems like a tasty vehicle.
This stuff came out great. I used it to finish some Sichuan fermented pickles. Together it is truly addictive. Thanks for this recipe
So glad you like it Ryan! The fermented pickles sound awesome.
Just made this. My ratios were way off tho so it ended up spicy as OMFG. Ty ! Very delicious. 😉
Nice – enjoy it Johan!
What is the shelf life of this?
I keep this oil (un-refrigerated) for up to 3 months Joyce!
If.i put onion n garlic in it what would be storage life unrefridgerated ??
Hi Neni,
I have never tried that so I am not sure how it would hold up. If you test it, come back and let us know!
I’d be careful. Trying to preserve wet ingredients in oil while unrefrigerated can create a botulism risk. If you’re going to use other ingredients besides dried chilies, I’d suggest you refrigerate.
Garlic and wee bit of onions fried until golden and crunchy, together with fried prawn shells and a bit of meat, totally elevates this to a different level. Putting a bit of sugar or sweetness, helps a. It too..
Thanks so much for the shout out.
Absolutely Kim 🙂
I definitely want to have this as a staple. Does the coconut oil re-solidify, or does the avocado oil keep it liquid?
Hey! I keep it in the cabinet and it still liquid. If you refrigerate, it will become a solid.
Homemade condiments are just the best!! I’m making this Chili Oil asap. I love the list of condiment links you share and will be checking many of them out. Thanks for including my jalapeno sauce, too!
Couldn’t agree more and after making them yourself, it really makes you do a double take at some of the bizarre additives and ingredients in the stores.
As the very lucky recipient of this, may I just tell you I am OBSESSED and a total convert?
You are the BEST!
So glad you are loving it!! 🙂
One of the most used oils in my home, we love some spice. I like that you’ve coconut oil, but doesn’t that change the taste of the oil and make it a bit stronger, not that I don’t like the idea..I In fact really like the idea.
I put this on EVERYTHING! 🙂
Alyssa,
Szechuan peppercorns are the things that make my mouth happy when I eat Ma La wonton or Ma Po tofu. I need to get some of them next time I’m at Penzey’s.
This chili oil looks gorgeous–lovely photos, Pamela!
Thanks!
I tried making a chili oil last year and was completely unimpressed. I know it didn’t have avocado oil in it though. (heck, I’ve never heard of that before now!) So, I need to play with the idea again now. Thanks!
Mary, you could use light olive oil in place of the avocado or coconut oil if you have that.
I’ve made this before, but it’s been years. Maybe decades! Gotta try it again. You’re right, it’s so simple. Thanks for the reminder.
I think I need to always have a jar of this in my pantry 🙂
My spicy loving heart is just going wild over this!!!
Right? Between this oil and homemade Sriracha, I am in a spice coma over here.
Why do you use both coconut and avocado oils? Is there an advantage?
The original recipe I found used 100% coconut oil and I found the taste very overwhelming. I also tried a version with just avocado oil and found it too flat. This combo is my happy medium and a way to avoid canola / safflower oils.
I’m definitely making this this weekend! I’ve got such a love for this stuff, but really should have realised how easy it is, and that we don’t need to buy it!
It’s definitely one of those things that leaves you wondering why you didn’t make it years ago!