Chinese Flavoured Oil

If you as well have started cooking Chinese recipes, then you definitely must try this Chinese flavoured oil. It's easy to prepare, it's lovely and it's got great taste and aroma. It goes along very well with Spring Pockets, Noodles, Ants Climbing a Tree and, of course, Chinese filled dumplings. Take care with this oil, it is, indeed, flavourful, but also quite hot. I started to make it less spicy, so that the children too can eat the food and also because it burns too much if you follow the classic recipe.

Ingredients
Peanut oil
200 ml
you can replace with rapeseed oil
Green onions
1 piece
use only the white part, I used half a white onion
Sichuan peppercorns
3 tsp
Laurel leaves
2 pieces
Star anise
2 pieces
Cloves
6 pieces
Ginger
20 g
a piece of fresh ginger the size of a walnut
Sesame seeds
2 tsp
Paprika
2 tsp
if you want it really hot, add 2 more tsp of hot paprika
Chilli pepper
1 tsp
chili flakes - crushed red pepper
Step by step
Step 1

On a plate, prepare the following: onion, bay leaf, Sichuan pepper, anise, clove and the thinly sliced ginger.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 1
Step 2

This is the peanut oil I'm using, they sell it in Metro, Selgros and I suppose in other large supermarkets.

If you don't have it, just replace it with rapeseed oil.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 2
Step 3

In a glass bowl (heat resistant would be great), combine 2 tsp sesame, 2 tsp paprika and 1 tsp dried chili flakes.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 3
Step 4

Use a measuring cup to measure 200ml oil and pour into a small pot.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 4
Step 5

Add all the ingredients prepared at step 1 to the pot.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 5
Step 6

Place the pot over high heat and when the ingredients start to fry, cook for 2-3 more minutes - pay attention not to burn them.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 6
Step 7

Place a metal sieve over the heat resistant bowl (the one from step 3, with sesame, paprika and chili).

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 7
Step 8

Pour the hot oil with spices through the sieve. Do it slowly and carefully so that you don't get spattered with oil.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 8
Step 9

Carefully lift the sieve, drain all the oil and, when colled, discard all the fried spices.

Notice how the oil in the bowl gets more reddish and it's beautifully decorated with flavourful sesame seeds.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 9
Step 10

After it cools down, pour into a jar or a small bottle and store in the fridge.

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 10
Step 11

Use a little of this oil for any dish you like and especially for making Chinese food :) 

Enjoy!

Chinese Flavoured Oil - Step 11
Quantity: 200 ml ()
Prep time:
5 min
Difficulty: easy
Ready in: 15 min