2. Chili Garlic Oil
Ingredients:
1 cup neutral oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
¼ cup dried chili flakes (adjust for spice level)
6 cloves garlic, finely minced or sliced
1 small shallot, finely chopped
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 small cinnamon stick
Instructions:
Heat the Oil: In a saucepan, heat the oil over low to medium heat until warm but not smoking.
Infuse Aromatics: Add garlic, shallots, cinnamon stick. Cook gently until the garlic turns golden brown (about 3-5 minutes). Stir constantly to prevent burning.
Add Chili Flakes & Spices: Turn off the heat and immediately stir in the chili flakes, salt, sugar, paprika, and sesame seeds. Let it sizzle and infuse.
Add Soy Sauce (Optional): Let it cool for a minute, then stir in soy sauce if using.
Cool & Store: Allow the chili oil to cool completely before transferring to a clean jar. Store in the fridge for up to a month.
Perfect for dumplings, noodles, fried rice, or as a dipping sauce!
