Best Chile Oil Recipes

MIDNIGHT PASTA WITH ROASTED GARLIC, OLIVE OIL AND CHILE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut off the top 1/4 inch of the head of garlic to expose the top of the cloves, then place on a piece of foil, cut-side up. Sprinkle exposed cloves with salt, then drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap the garlic in the foil and roast until soft and golden brown, 40 to 50 minutes.
• When you're ready to make the pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Finely chop the parsley leaves. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
• While the pasta cooks, in a large Dutch oven or skillet, heat the remaining 1/2 cup oil over medium heat. Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into the oil and cook, breaking them up with your spoon, until very fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the red-pepper flakes and a few generous grinds of pepper. Remove the pan from the heat to infuse the oil while the pasta finishes cooking.
• When the pasta's done, heat the garlic oil over medium, then add the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and the parsley, and simmer, tossing constantly and adding more pasta water as needed, until the pasta is glossed with sauce.
• Serve with more red-pepper flakes, black pepper and Parmesan.

TOMATO-POACHED FISH WITH CHILE OIL AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet (use one with a lid) over medium-high. Add garlic and shallots and cook, swirling the skillet constantly until they start to toast and turn light golden brown, 2 minutes or so. Add red-pepper flakes and swirl to toast for a few seconds. Remove from heat and transfer all but 1 tablespoon of the chile oil to a small bowl.
• Add tomatoes to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing occasionally, until they burst and start to become saucy and jammy, 5 to 8 minutes. Add fish sauce, if using, and 1 1/2 cups water, swirling to release any of the bits stuck on the bottom of the skillet.
• Cook until the sauce is slightly thickened but still nice and brothy, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season the fish with salt and pepper and gently lay the pieces in the brothy tomatoes. Cover the skillet and cook until the fish is opaque and just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes (slightly longer for a thicker piece of fish, like halibut).
• To serve, transfer fish and brothy tomatoes to a large shallow bowl or divide among four bowls. Drizzle with reserved chile oil, more olive oil and the crispy shallots and garlic. Top with cilantro and mint, and serve with limes for squeezing over the top. Serve with tortillas, toast or rice, if you like.

CHILE-OIL NOODLES WITH CILANTRO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook noodles according to package instructions, stirring from time to time to prevent them from sticking. Drain well in a colander, then run noodles under cold water until cooled.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine all three oils with the soy sauce and 1/2 cup garlic chives.
• Toss cooled noodles into the chile oil mixture. Gently fold in the crumbled fried shallots and chopped cilantro. Divide among four bowls, and top with more garlic chives and cilantro sprigs.

STEAMED VEGETABLES WITH SESAME-CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Special equipment: a metal steamer basket
• Fill a large pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Arrange the carrots, asparagus, cauliflower and broccoli in a metal steamer basket; place in the pot and cover. Steam the vegetables until slightly tender but still with a little crunch, 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the veggies are steaming, heat a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the sesame-chile oil, olive oil, garlic and pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute.
• Transfer the steamed vegetables to a bowl. Add the sesame-chili oil mixture and the lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss to coat the vegetables evenly. Serve immediately.

AVOCADO SOUP WITH CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Make the soup: Heat a medium pot over medium-low. Add the oil and heat, then add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent and slightly brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook to slightly brown, another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cumin and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then add the vegetable broth.
• Allow the mixture to come to a simmer and cook until the onion and garlic are soft and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes, then add the almond milk and turn off the heat. Allow the mixture to cool to lukewarm.
• To finish the soup, combine the avocados, cilantro, lime juice, broth mixture and a pinch of salt in a blender. Blend until completely smooth, adding up to ½ cup of broth or water as needed if the mixture is too thick. (You may need to do this in batches.) Taste and season with more salt if necessary. Chill if you prefer the soup cold.
• Make the chile oil: Heat a small saucepan over medium-low, then add the oil and chiles. Continuously stir the chiles in the hot oil until they become fragrant, deepen in color and stain the oil a red-orange hue, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor with a pinch of salt and pulse until the chiles are finely ground.
• Serve at room temperature or refrigerate until chilled to serve cold. Divide the soup among bowls and garnish with pepitas, chives, tortilla chips and chile oil.

GRILLED LAVASH PIZZA WITH SPICY HUMMUS, GRILLED EGGPLANT, FETA, RED CHILE OIL, AND MINT

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high. Brush the lavash with oil on both sides. Grill until golden brown on both sides. Brush the eggplant with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the eggplant, cut-side down, until golden brown. Turn the eggplant over and grill until just cooked through. Remove from grill and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Spread the hummus over the bread, top with the eggplant, and then the feta. Grill, with the cover down for 2 to 3 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from the grill, drizzle with the red chile oil and sprinkle with mint.
• Put the chickpeas, garlic, and tahini in the work bowl a food processor. Pulse until it becomes paste-like, adding a few tablespoons of water, if needed. Add the cayenne, cumin, and lemon juice, and pulse again until combined. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Add the parsley and pulse until just combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 5 minutes. Strain into a small bowl.

OVEN ROASTED SHRIMP WITH TOASTED GARLIC AND RED CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.
• Place the shrimp in a cazuela or an ovenproof casserole and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle olive oil over shrimp, add crushed garlic, and toss to coat. Roast in the oven until pink and cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drizzle generously with Red Chile Oil and sprinkle with thyme and Toasted Garlic Chips. Serve with crusty bread.
• 1 cup olive oil
• 6 dried chiles de arbol, lightly toasted and crushed
• 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• Pinch salt
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed
• Blend all ingredients including the thyme leaves in a blender until smooth.. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl.
• 1 cup olive oil
• 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• Salt
• Heat the oil in a small skillet until it begins to shimmer. Add the garlic and cook until the slices begin to brown and curl. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels and season with salt.

SWEET POTATO-GARLIC SOUP WITH CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove some of the excess paper from the head of garlic, leaving the bulb intact. Rub the bulb with 2 teaspoons oil and place it in the center of a rimmed baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes, onion and cumin seeds with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Spread them in a single layer on the baking sheet and roast until the sweet potatoes are slightly caramelized and tender and the garlic has softened, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest until the vegetables are cool enough to handle, about 8 minutes.
• While the vegetables roast, prepare the chile oil: In a small saucepan over medium, heat the neutral oil, taking care not to burn it. (Measure the oil's temperature with a thermometer; it should read about 325 degrees. You could also test the temperature with a Sichuan peppercorn: It should sizzle when tossed in.)
• Once the oil is hot, remove it from the heat, add the red-pepper flakes, garlic and Sichuan peppercorns. Cover with a lid and let steep for at least 20 minutes. (The oil can be prepared a day ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)
• Transfer the cooked sweet potato mixture to a blender. Squeeze the softened garlic pulp out of the cloves and add the pulp to the blender. Add 1/4 cup stock to the baking sheet and scrape off any bits that have stuck to the pan. Add the stock and bits to the blender. Add the remaining stock, the black pepper and turmeric to the blender and purée on high speed until smooth and creamy. Taste and add salt as needed. Transfer the soup to a medium saucepan and rewarm over low as needed.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Give the chile oil a stir and drizzle the soup with a generous tablespoon or two. Serve immediately.

RAMEN WITH CHARRED SCALLIONS, GREEN BEANS AND CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Prepare the chile oil: Add the red-pepper flakes and salt to a heatproof bowl. Place the oil, ginger and garlic in a small saucepan, and heat over medium until it bubbles, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and very carefully pour the hot oil over the red-pepper flakes. Add the sesame seeds and sesame oil, and stir well. Set aside while you make the rest of the dish. (Chile oil can be stored in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to a month and indefinitely in the refrigerator.)
• Prepare the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ramen and cook according to package instructions, about 3 minutes, until the noodles are just tender. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well again.
• Slice the white parts of your scallions lengthwise, in half or quarters, depending on thickness, to make cooking faster.
• Heat a wok or large (12-inch), deep skillet on high. When smoking hot, add 1 tablespoon of oil, toss in the green beans and season with salt. Cook, tossing the beans, for 2 to 3 minutes, until charred. Remove the beans from the wok, and set aside.
• Heat the same wok or skillet over high, and when smoking, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil, along with the scallions (white and green parts) and the ginger. Allow the scallions and ginger to sizzle for 20 to 30 seconds, to release their aromas, then stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until the scallions have a nice scorch.
• Add the green beans and noodles back to the pan, along with 2 or 3 tablespoons of the chile oil (reserve some for serving), and season with salt and pepper. Toss well to combine, just until the noodles are heated through. To serve, divide the noodles into bowls, top with toasted sesame seeds and more chile oil.

SPICY WON TONS WITH CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Make the chile oil: Snip any stems off the chiles and discard any exposed seeds. Heat a wok or large skillet over low. Add 1/2 teaspoon oil and the chiles and cook, stirring constantly, until the chiles are fragrant, toasted and slightly darkened, about 3 minutes. Transfer the chiles immediately to a large plate and let cool completely.
• Add the cooled chiles to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped into small pieces. Transfer to a medium heatproof bowl. Add the remaining oil to the wok or skillet and heat over medium-high until shimmering and smoking, then immediately turn off the heat and let cool 3 minutes. Pour the warm oil over the chiles, stir to combine, then let cool 2 hours or up to overnight. (You'll have a generous 1/2 cup. Chile oil will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 months.)
• At least a couple hours before you plan to make the won tons, prepare the chile-oil sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients to combine (makes about 3/4 cup). Add more chile oil to taste. Set aside. (Chile-oil sauce is best prepared at least a few hours in advance, and will keep a few weeks refrigerated in a covered container.)
• Prepare the filling: Put all the ingredients except the chicken stock in a medium bowl and mix well. Add the stock 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring in a circular motion until incorporated before adding the next spoonful.
• Assemble the won tons: Fill a small bowl with water and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Working with one won-ton wrapper at a time, place 1 rounded teaspoon of pork filling in the center of the wrapper. Dip your finger in the water and run it around the edges of the wrapper. Lift and fold one corner over the filling toward the opposite corner over to form a triangle, gently pressing the air out as you seal the edges with your fingertip, then dab one of the lower corners with water and fold over to reach the other lower corner, forming a smaller triangle; pinch both corners to seal. Transfer to the parchment paper, and cover loosely with a damp kitchen towel or a sheet of plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Repeat until all the filling is used.
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil over high heat. Working in batches to avoid crowding, cook the won tons until they float to the surface, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. Divide the won tons among bowls, drizzle with chile-oil sauce and garnish with scallions.

OVEN-ROASTED WILD MUSHROOMS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the mushrooms with the olive oil, and shallots, then season with salt and black pepper.
• Arrange the mushrooms evenly in one layer in a heavy roasting pan and roast for 15 minutes or until tender. Remove the mushrooms from the roasting pan and place into a large cazuela or baking dish. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of chile oil and top with the slices of cheese. Bake until hot, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, garnish with thyme, and drizzle with the remaining chile oil. Serve with lots of crusty French bread.
• Place all ingredients in a blender and puree. Strain mixture through a fine strainer. Reserve. This may be done up to one day in advance.

NOODLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN AND CHILE-SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• For chile-scallion oil:
• Cook all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally, until scallions and garlic are just golden brown, about 3 minutes. Let cool; transfer oil to a jar.
• DO AHEAD: Chile oil can be made 4 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• For noodles and assembly:
• Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions; drain. Rinse noodles under cold water, then shake off as much water as possible.
• Whisk soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and oil in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Add noodles, chicken, and scallions; toss to coat. Toss with cucumber, radishes, and cilantro and drizzle with chile oil just before serving.
• DO AHEAD: Noodles can be cooked the night before. Toss with 1 teaspoon oil; cover and chill. Store noodles with chicken; store vegetables and dressing separately.

SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC, OIL, AND CHILE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season generously with salt. Stir in spaghetti and cook until slightly less than al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain.
• Meanwhile, add garlic and oil to a cold large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is just golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add sage and chile; cook 1 minute more. Stir in 1/2 cup pasta water and a few grinds of pepper. Increase heat to high and cook, swirling skillet occasionally, until reduced by about half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add pasta; toss to coat.
• Remove skillet from heat, add cheese, and toss vigorously, adding more pasta water as needed to create a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper and serve, with basil leaves and more cheese scattered over top.

CHILE-RUBBED BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH GARLIC-HERB OIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Mix together the ancho chile powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, cayenne, garlic powder, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the olive oil on the tenderloin, then rub evenly with the spice mixture. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Heat the canola oil in a large ovensafe skillet, preferably cast-iron, over medium-high heat. Sear the tenderloin (bending it to fit in the skillet if necessary) until golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the tenderloin reads 130 degrees F (for medium rare), about 20 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Remove the string and slice the tenderloin crosswise. Spoon over some of the Garlic-Herb Oil and sprinkle the meat with additional salt. Serve the remaining Garlic-Herb Oil in a bowl on the side.
• Combine the olive oil and garlic in a small saucepan. Turn the heat to medium low and gently poach the garlic for 5 minutes; the oil should be at a very bare simmer but not boiling, otherwise the garlic will burn. Turn off the heat and allow to cool completely.
• Remove the garlic from the oil and discard; transfer the oil to a bowl. Add the parsley, cilantro, chives, red pepper flakes and salt to taste to the oil and stir to combine.

SPAGHETTI WITH BURRATA AND GARLIC-CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Crack the fennel seeds with the flat side of a large knife or the backside of a heavy skillet. Heat the oil, sliced fennel, garlic, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes in a large skillet over low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic and fennel are softened and the oil is deeply flavored, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and return pasta to pot. Reserve a few tablespoons of the seasoned oil and fennel mixture, then add the rest to the pot with the pasta and toss to coat.
• Divide the pasta and burrata among four shallow bowls. Spoon the remaining seasoned oil and fennel mixture over the top and season with flaky salt and black pepper to taste.

CHILE-OIL FRIED EGGS WITH GREENS AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Make the chile oil (or skip to Step 4 if using store-bought chile oil): Add red-pepper flakes to a heatproof container that can balance a fine-mesh sieve and comfortably hold at least 1 cup oil. (A 12- or 16-ounce Mason jar works well.) Set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, toast cinnamon stick, star anise, cardamom (if using), fennel seeds and peppercorns, gently shaking the pan, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add oil, garlic and ginger (if using), reduce the heat to low and allow the oil to come to a gentle simmer. Cook until the garlic is deeply golden brown and the ginger is tender, about 20 minutes. (The longer and more gently it cooks, the more flavorful the oil will be.)
• Carefully pour hot oil through sieve directly onto the red-pepper flakes, which will sizzle and fry in the hot oil. Discard strained spices. (You should have a little more than 1 cup oil.) Allow mixture to cool at least 1 hour or, for the best flavor, make it the night before.
• As chile oil simmers, prepare the seed mix: Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a rimmed sheet pan, lay out sesame seeds and pepitas in a single layer, transfer to the oven and toast until golden and fragrant, about 6 minutes. Let cool slightly, then mix in peanuts and garlic flakes. Set aside.
• Prepare the sautéed kale: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm oil until it shimmers. Add kale to the skillet, a couple of handfuls at a time, stirring to combine and adding more kale to the skillet as it wilts and space permits. (Kale will release liquid, but if you think it needs more oil, add it to the pan.) When the last batch has been added, season generously with salt. Add vinegar and about 1/2 tablespoon red-pepper flakes scooped from the chile oil, and stir to incorporate. You want some wilted bits and some crunchier drier bits. Set over low heat as you fry your eggs.
• Prepare the eggs: In another large nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon neutral oil. Working in batches, cook 1 to 2 eggs per person, adding oil as needed, until the yolk is a desired consistency, 2 to 3 minutes for sunny-side up.
• Plate the dish: Dollop about 1/4 cup yogurt onto the center of each plate, spread it in a circle, leaving space around the edge of the plate for the seeded oil and a divot in the middle for the greens. Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons chile oil around the edge of the yogurt, and sprinkle seed mix over the oil. Divide warm greens on top of yogurt, and top with eggs. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and serve immediately.

SICHUAN CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut all of the chiles into 1/2-inch pieces. Toast chiles in a dry wok or saucepan over medium heat, stirring and shaking constantly, until fragrant and lightly darkened in color, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer toasted chiles to the bowl of a food processor or mortar and pestle, and pulse or pound until the chiles break into 1/8- to 1/4-inch pieces that resemble store-bought red-pepper flakes or flaky sea salt. (Be careful not to overprocess.) Transfer the chile flakes to a heat-proof mixing bowl.
• Combine oil, garlic, ginger, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cumin and fennel seeds in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat until gently bubbling, then cook for 10 minutes, adjusting heat to maintain the barest of bubbling.
• Set a fine-mesh strainer over the bowl with the chiles. Pour the hot oil through strainer over the chiles. Discard solids. Stir sugar, sesame seeds, salt and MSG, if using, into oil mixture until combined. Allow to cool, transfer to a sealed container, and let rest at room temperature overnight before using. You can store chile oil in a cool, dark pantry for a few weeks, or indefinitely in the refrigerator.

CHINESE CHILE-SCALLION OIL

Steps:

• In a large pot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer, combine the red pepper flakes, garlic, scallions, ginger, and the oils. Over medium-low heat, bring to a bubbly 225 to 250 degrees, stirring occasionally. Simmer 15 minutes, making sure the temperature does not rise above 250 degrees. Let cool. Scrape the oil and solids into a glass or plastic container and store tightly covered at room temperature.

ROASTED SHRIMP WITH TOASTED GARLIC CHIPS AND CHILE OIL

Steps:

• For the Toasted Garlic Chips:
• Heat oil over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add the garlic slices and cook until the slices are lightly golden brown. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon to a dish lined with paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Discard the oil.
• For the Red Chile Oil:
• Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let oil infuse for 30 minutes. Strain oil into a bowl.
• For the Shrimp:
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the shrimp in a large oven proof casserole (cazuela), pour the red chile oil over them and season the shrimp with the ancho chili powder and salt. Roast in the oven until pink and just cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes for small shrimp, 6 to 7 minutes for medium.
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the chopped thyme and Toasted Garlic Chips. Serve immediately with lots of crusty French bread.

CHILE-AND-OLIVE-OIL-FRIED EGG WITH AVOCADO AND SPROUTS

Steps:

• Toss sprouts with lime juice in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. When oil is hot, crack both eggs into skillet and season with salt and pepper. Oil should be bubbling around eggs from the start. Cook, rotating skillet occasionally, until whites are golden brown and crisp at the edges and set around the yolk (which should be runny), about 2 minutes. Add red pepper flakes to oil and remove pan from heat. Meanwhile, heat tortillas over a gas burner until just warmed and slightly charred in spots (or warm in the oven or a toaster oven).
• Mound sprouts on tortillas and top with fried eggs. Spoon chile oil from skillet around and drizzle with hot sauce. Crumble feta over, and serve with avocado slices, lime wedges, and more hot sauce.