Chillies, Dried Red

Although dried red chillies are not found often in Hong Kong dishes, they are used in Sichuan-inspired dishes. Some are small, thin and about half an inch (1 cm) long. They are used to season oil for stir-fried dishes, or split and used in sauces, as well as for braising. They are normally left whole or cut in half lengthwise with the seeds left in. Unlike the Sichuanese, the Chinese of Hong Kong do not like the chillies blackened, and they cut down the amount normally used. Dried chillies can be found in most large supermarkets and at Asian markets, and they will keep indefinitely in a tightly covered jar in a cool place.