Chili Oil

One thing I've fallen in love with while in Thailand is chili oil. Every pizza place we've been to brings it out with the entrees. I add it to almost everything! Pizza, bread, pasta. It's that addictive. This recipe gives your olive oil a kick and a small taste of chili pepper. Chili peppers are mostly spice, but they actually have a great flavor that's often eclipsed by the heat. This oil does a terrific job of extracting that smokey taste from the chili and using it to infuse your oil.

Okay, here's how:

Pick a few nice looking, smaller chili peppers. Be sure they quite spicy. If you're using chilis as hot as mine (authentic Thai Mouse Poop chili - yeah, that's what they're called, but replace poop with something a bit more explicit), only use between 5 and 10, at most. Also, select good quality EVOO. Remember that this is Chili Oil we're making. I'd say about 90% of the flavor relies on the quality of the oil.

Next, heat about 1 - 2 cups oil in a skillet or sauce pan on medium high. Feel free to use more oil in this recipe if you have a larger container you plan to use. Once the oil is nice and hot, maybe even crackling a bit, slice up 3/4 of your chilis, removing most of the seeds, and toss them in the pan. Allow them to cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 to 10 mins. Don't let them brown or burn.

Turn off the heat and let the oil rest for 10 to 20 minutes, an hour or more if you plan to store it in anything other than glass. Add the oil, straining out the peppers if you like, to your container (if using glass, be sure it hasn't been stored in an extremely cool place, like the fridge. If so, bring it back up to room temp first). Add the remaining whole chili peppers to your container. Just drop them in the oil. If it's still warm, they will cook a bit. That's okay. But steer clear if you hear popping sounds, because it may burn your skin. Allow it to cool down completely, then add the lid and store it in a cool, dry place. I have no idea how long this oil lasts. I would assume at least a month. If after a few weeks, you begin to see funky growth inside the container or it smells strange, toss it. It's time for a new batch.

Enjoy!