Chili Oil

Chinese cuisine consists of many regional cooking styles, one of my favorites is Sichuan cuisine. Sichuan food is famous for its ma (numbing) and la (spicy) flavors. For the la flavor, dried red chilies are used abundantly, but chili oil also plays a key role in lending a spicy nuance to dishes.

Bottled chili oil (la you) is commonly found at Asian grocery stores, but I love making mine from scratch. I always make a small portion, just enough for cooking