Crispy Chilli Oil
Crunchy, spicy, and packed with umami, crispy chilli oil is pure dopamine in a jar. A spoonful adds heat, depth, and texture to even the plainest meal—no cooking required. Plus it's super ADHD frindly as it has a super long shelf life. Keep a jar on your counter top and you'll be reaching for it all the time.
Why it Works
Crispy Chilli Oil is a no-prep, high-flavour, versatile jar of dopamine. It lasts for ages and hits multiple dopamine triggers—heat, crunch, umami, and aroma. Whether you’re too tired to cook or just want a little food excitement, this bomb delivers instant payoff. Bonus: it plays beautifully with cooling ingredients like yogurt, eggs, or creamy veg for a perfect contrast.
How to Use it
Crispy chilli oil shines when you want bold flavour with minimal effort. It’s best spooned over soft or subtle ingredients that benefit from heat and crunch—but honestly, it works on almost anything.
- Drizzle over fried or soft-boiled eggs for instant firepower
- Swirl into soups or noodle broths for crunch and heat
- Pair with garlic yogurt on roasted carrots or sweet potato
- Stir into grains or rice bowls to wake them up
- Top off dumplings, gyoza, or pan-fried tofu
- Add to mayo or Greek yogurt for a fast spicy dip or dressing
- Mix with olive oil and lemon juice for a fiery salad drizzle
- Layer over toast with cream cheese and smokey salmon
Basically add it to anything to bring life and heat to your dish.
Buying Guide
You’ll find crispy chilli oils everywhere now—from artisan jars to budget-friendly supermarket versions. Look for ones with:
- Crunchy bits like garlic, shallot, and fermented soybeans
- A balance of heat and umami (not just spicy)
- Clear oil with visible sediment (more flavour)
- Optional sweetness or tang depending on your vibe
Famous brands:
- Lao Gan Ma – bold, garlicky, super savoury
- Fai Deng – smoky with fermented beans
- Supermarket own brands – often milder but still solid
Tip: If you're sensitive to spice, start with small amounts or pick a version marked “mild” or “savoury.”
Storage Tips
Things to know
- Contains alliums (garlic, onion) and sometimes soy or MSG—check the label if you’re sensitive.
- Some versions are very spicy—taste before pouring!
- Some brands use szcheuan peppercorns which have a bit of a numbing effect on the tongue - it's not to everyones taste so look out for anything labelled Szcheuen
- Crunch factor varies: shake or stir to get the right mix of oil + crisp.
Related Recipes
Roasted Carrots with Chilli Oil & Garlic Yoghurt
This dish is super addictive. It's spicy, cool, salty, sweet, soft and crunchy all in one. This dish feels like like it came straight from a restaurant, but it’s secretly simple. The carrots go soft and sweet in the air fryer while the garlic yoghurt brings cool, creamy contrast. The crispy chilli oil hits with heat and umami. And if you add the optional nuts you get a textural balance between the soft roasted carrots and the crisp and crunchy nuts. It’s sensory dopamine on a plate, with barely any fuss.
Crispy Chilli Cucumber Salad
Want something super tasty , crunchy, spicy and refreshing but low spoons? This salad delivers crunch, spice, and satisfaction in just minutes. The cucumber keeps things fresh and hydrating, while the soy-chilli-vinegar dressing hits all the right dopamine notes. It’s the kind of side dish you’ll want to make on repeat, and you barely even have to think.