Chili Crisps and oils – what you need to know

Chili oils and crisp are a perfect way to add bite and complexity to pretty much any dish you can imagine. Scrambled eggs for breakfast, a hearty lunch salad, or a simple piece of steamed fish for dinner – they all benefit from a hit of umami and spice.

Lets start with the simpler of the two – chili oil. This is essentially oil steeped in fiery chilis to make a condiment, cooking or finishing sauce. The Woks Of Life have this fine recipe that showcases the condiment.

Chili crisps meanwhile take things a little further, the spicy oil based condiment is given an amp of extra flavor – and texture – usually featuring fried garlic and other aromatics. Here are some of our favorite chili crisps and oils, and what you need to know.

Laoganma Chili Crisp

Laoganma Chili Crisp is probably the most recognizable and accessible to most – appearing in man y grocery stores across the country. Laoganma (which means old grandmother) is one of the most popular brands in China. First produced in 1996 the company now make a staggering 1.3 million bottles of product per day (the make a wide range). Their chili crisp is a good reference point to begin your adventure.