Chilli Oil

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

chinese

dipping sauce

150 mls oil preferably groundnut

1 tablespoon dried red chillies chopped

2 teaspoons unroasted Sichuan peppercorns (optional)

Preparation

Heat a wok or frying pan over a high heat and add the oil.

Continue to heat until the oil begins to smoke.

Remove the wok or pan from the heat and add the chillis and peppercorns.

Allow the mixture to cool undisturbed and then pour it into a jar.

Let the mixture sit for 2 days and then strain the oil.

It will keep indefinitely.

For those who like hot and spicy food chilli oil is a must. It can be purchased ready made from chinese grocers but it is easy to make yourself. Chilli oil can be added as a final spicy touch to dishes during cooking or it can be used as a dipping sauce either on its own or combined with vinegar and soy sauce (eg pot sticker dumplings).