XFF Chili Oil

秘制辣椒油

Preparation info
  • Makes slightly less than

    1 quart

    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in
Xi'an Famous Foods: The Cuisine of Western China, from New York's Favorite Noodle Shop

By Jason Wang

Published 2020

  • About

While most sauces like sriracha aim to get the bright, acidic bite of fresh peppers, we go for that deep, fiery, earthy heat of roasted chile peppers. So while our chili oil might look red and intimidating, it actually caps off quite early in terms of spice level, and instead focuses on the flavor and fragrances of spices like star anise, cloves, and bay leaves. I add it to eggs, congee, and any and all noodles. A drop or two will add a small but powerful kick; a splash will make your mouth