Chili Oil Is Your Friend

I get it. Not everyone has the same spice tolerance I have. But I would never cook or order Xi’an Food without a single hit of chili oil. Our foods are known for being spicy and flavorful, and our chili oil is an important player in that. This isn’t just about burning your face off, by the way; this is as much about heat as it is about taste and aroma, the toasted cloves and bay leaves, the fragrance of the spices. Without chili oil, many of the dishes will end up being too bland. It’s just not XFF.