Our Easy Chilli Crisp

Name: Our Easy Chilli Crisp
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 dried bay leaf ((substitute fresh)); 1 star anise; 1/2 cinnamon stick ((just break by hand)); 1/2 tsp green cardamom pods ((~7 - 8 pods)); 2 1/2 tsp red (or pink) sichuan peppercorns ((whole not powder) (Note 1)); 1/2 tsp fennel seeds; 1/4 tsp cloves ((~8 pieces)); 2 tsp water; 1 green onion stem (, cut into 15cm/6" lengths); 1 tbsp fresh ginger (, sliced 3mm/ 0.1" thick (slice then press into tablespoon to measure)); 1 cup vegetable oil ((or canola or peanut oil)); 1 tsp white sesame seeds; 3 tsp dried chilli flakes ((red pepper flakes) (Note 2)); 1 tbsp smoked paprika (, sub regular/sweet paprika); 1/2 tsp light soy sauce (or all-purpose soy (not dark soy)); 1/2 tsp Chinese black vinegar ((Chinkiang) (Note 3)); 1 tsp caster sugar / superfine sugar ((Note 4)); 1 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt; 1 tsp Chinese chicken stock powder; 1/2 cup crispy fried shallots (, store bought (Note 6)); 2 tbsp crispy fried garlic (, store bought (Note 6))

Instructions

Prep:20minCook:30min

Recipe video above. This is the best Chilli Crisp I have ever had in my life. Proper crunchy bits, excellent flavour (why are so many so bland??!), savoury (not just salty), has a stack of aromatic flavour, and a warm spiciness that won't blow your head off. Easy to make with accessible ingredients. Better than anything you can buy! We take a massive shortcut by using store bought crispy friend shallots and garlic. Frying your own is tricky even for professional chefs. We thought using store bought would compromise the greatness of a truly from-scratch chilli crisp, but it didn't!Recipe credit: Massive thanks to Chef Hannah from our food bank RecipeTin Meals, and her father Chef Haibing Huang back in China. Chilli Crisp Lovers of the world salute you!Makes ~1 1/4 cups (310 ml)

Updated at: Thu, 14 May 2026 00:40:00 GMT