Updated on April 9th, 2023
Do you enjoy spicy foods, as well as Japanese or Chinese cuisine? In any case, you should be aware of how important hot chili oil is in many dishes. Due to its heat and spiciness is frequently used as the primary base for Italian, Korean, and Chinese cuisine. This oil is an excellent choice due to its versatility.
We can use hot chili oil for cooking meat or vegetables. If you can’t handle spicy rolls, use them as a dip instead.
Whether you buy it from a nearby store or prepare it at home, you may run out of it. If you are looking for a viable substitute for hot chili oil, other options are available.
Chili oil is one of the most versatile condiments (and sometimes even an ingredient) used in your cooking. If, however, you are unable to obtain any chili oil, this article is the place to be. So, what are some chili oil alternatives?
Continue reading to learn more about these chili oil substitutes!
What Exactly is Chili Oil?
Chili oil is a condiment widely used in Chinese cooking. Typically, it is made by infusing chili peppers into vegetable oil.
It is now popular worldwide, and numerous variations use various oils and hot peppers. When making chili oil, additional ingredients such as sugar, water, soy sauce, herbs, spices, and so on are added.
Chili oil can be used as a dip with various foods such as dim sum and meat or as an ingredient in cooking.
Chili oil can be made with sesame oil, soybean oil, or even olive oil. Additionally, spices such as garlic, paprika, Sichuan pepper, peanuts, and others are added to various types of chili oil.
Here we’ve Listed Some Best Hot Chili Oil Substitutes
1. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a spicy chili pepper commonly used to season dishes.
Cayenne pepper is frequently used to make chili oil, and it is widely available and can be used in place of chili oil in cooking. While chili oil is unrivaled in versatility, We can achieve a similar flavor with peanut oil and cayenne pepper.
Both flavor profiles aren’t complimentary, but they share a spicy flavor, and it will give your dish the necessary kick.
2. Sichuan Sauce
This sauce is primarily made with Sichuan pepper to add spice and zing.
It has a thicker consistency than chili oil but can easily be substituted. It can be used as a condiment and an ingredient in cooking.
3. Gochujang
Gochujang is a slightly sweet-tasting Korean chili paste.
Gochujang has a thicker texture than chili oil and is similar to Sichuan sauce. However, you can easily substitute it for chili oil as a condiment.
4. Chili Garlic Oil
If you want your dishes to look restaurant-worthy, consider making chili garlic oil.
This simple recipe may appear complicated, but it is simple to follow and only takes 15-20 minutes. Chili powder and garlic boost the spiciness of your dishes.
The type of oil used determines the final result of the dish. As a result, choose a neutral oil, such as avocado or grapeseed. These oils do not compete with the other ingredients in terms of flavor.
To adjust the flavor, this recipe calls for chilies (any kind will do, but Thai ones work best), garlic, any neutral oil, salt, vinegar, and sugar.
To properly infuse the chili and garlic flavors into the oil, blend the mixture for 10 minutes, then stir fry until the mixture turns into a red paste.
We must thoroughly mix the oil to incorporate the chilis and garlic into the oil properly. As the oil heats up, it will turn red. Ensure not to burn the ingredients because this will destroy the desired flavor.
If you only want a mild flavor, use the oil.
5. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is almost synonymous with Asian cooking.
You can use it directly in place of chili oil or mix it with chili flakes and other spices. This will give it a closer and more spicy flavor, similar to chili oil.
6. Sweet Chili Sauce
By combining spiciness with sweetness and savory notes, this sauce complements Thai and Asian cuisines.
Because chili oil is used for dipping, We can use this sauce in place of it. This sauce can be used as a substitute for dipping.
Although you can buy them in grocery stores, we recommend making your own. It is a healthy alternative that can also be made in bulk for later use.
It’s simple to make, requiring only vinegar, garlic, red chili paste or chili flakes, garlic, lime, and sugar.
We can replace sugar with honey or brown rice syrup. Blend them in a blender to make your sauce!
7. Black Bean Sauce
Another popular Chinese-inspired condiment is black bean sauce.
Using black bean sauce instead of chili oil may result in a saltier flavor. If you want to match the flavor of the chili oil, you can always add some spices.
8. Sriracha
Sriracha is a close substitute for chili oil.
The primary distinction is that Sriracha is a sauce, whereas chili oil is made with vegetable oils. Aside from that, they both contain chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
9. Heat Chilies in Oil
Fresh chilies, such as Szechuan or jalapenos, can be simmered in hot oil for about 30 minutes, then separated and used to substitute for the spicy, red oil.
If you use a higher boiling point oil, stir-frying the chilies for a few minutes in hot oil can also produce heat and spice.
This will not be a paste but rather an oily mixture, so it may not be as versatile or useful in many dishes.
10. Chili Flakes
You can easily find chili flakes and up your cooking game by using them. To obtain the same element as chili oil, mix some vegetable oil with chili flakes and serve as a substitute.
11. Dried Peppers
As a substitute for chili oil, place dried chili peppers in a bottle of oil with a shelf life of at least a year. It takes at least a month for the peppers to release their flavors in this oil fully.
For this method, We should use only completely dehydrated peppers. When oil is made from ripe or undried peppers, a bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum can form, resulting in severe food poisoning.
12. Crushed Red Peppers
One of the simplest ways to make chili oil is to heat a teaspoon of crushed red pepper with about a quarter cup of oil.
Simmer the mixture for about ten minutes on low heat. Strain the mixture to remove the seeds and flakes.
This substitution’s ingredients are likely to be found in your pantry, so you can easily make it whether you enjoy eating out or cooking regularly.
Can you Make Hot Chili Oil at Home?
Is your chili oil jar nearly empty? Not a problem! Replace it with a simple homemade recipe. However, use the proper oil, such as rapeseed or sunflower.
Furthermore, the oil should be hot enough to toast the spices and other ingredients without burning them.
Chili oil’s unrivaled flavor and versatility make it difficult to find a suitable substitute. You can, however, try some of the other recipes listed above. When you don’t have time to run to the store, homemade recipes come in handy.
These recipes are ready in under 15 minutes. You can also cook and chill them ahead of time. As a result, it’s not difficult to substitute homemade chili oil for something different in the mix.
Similarly, you can make your chili paste at home. You need to combine a few chili peppers, garlic, and fresh onion and chop them finely or pulse them in a food processor.
The good news is that you can add as many vegetables as you want to the mix.
Then, add a little olive oil to the pot, followed by the mixture of vegetables you just-chopped. Allow it to cook for about 20 minutes on low heat.
Stir the mixture frequently as it heats and cooks.
It’s critical to add a little olive oil to keep the mixture from drying out.
Remember that the key is to mix in the paste without burning it carefully. You can also add additional seasonings and cook for another five minutes.
Pour the newly created paste into a jar when you’re finished. Remember to use a tight-fitting container and allow the paste to cool slightly. Please don’t put it in the fridge right away; it’s always good to let the oil cool before refrigerating it.
What are Some Recipes Using Hot Chili Sauce?
Wagyu Beef Burritos.
The famous Lobel’s meats recipe calls for Wagyu skirt steak marinated in garlic, lime, and cumin served with fresh roasted corn salsa and creme fraiche.
Tofu Shirataki Chinese.
This Chinese New Year recipe serves shirataki (a pasta-like noodle made from soy and yam) with a flavorful sauce of soy sauce paste, sesame oil, and garlic.
Serrano Chili and Shallot Oil
Serrano chili is related to the popular Jalapeno in the West. This chili stands out because of its complex flavor profile, earthy and slightly citrusy compared to its relatives.
We love it regardless of the name because it’s a fantastic East-West fusion condiment that We can use in almost any dish that calls for an aromatic oil.
Siling Labuyo Oil
Siling Labuyo is a small, hot chili native to the Philippines, and it’s frequently used to heat vinegar and other dipping sauces.
It resembles Thai Bird’s Eye Chili and is frequently misidentified as such in international markets.
What’s great about this chili is that it keeps its heat level even after cooking. This, of course, means a fiery oil that will have you fanning your mouth with each bite!
Sweet BBQ Chili Oil
This one may surprise you because it is more of a sauce than an oil. But trust us when we say it’s one of the best aromatic toppings you can put on food.
It’s a versatile condiment used to marinate meat and vegetables before grilling, similar to Char Siu sauce, which has a similar flavor profile.
This oil/sauce is great because you can customize the sauce-to-oil ratio to your liking. It also goes well with our Spicy Beef flavored immi ramen.
What is the Appropriate Amount of Chili Oil to Use?
The amount of chili oil you should use is determined by the dish and your spice tolerance level.
To add flavor to any dish, add a dash of chili oil. We can use chili oil to prepare noodles, rice, and even pasta. Alternatively, drizzle some chili oil over the noodles or rice before serving.
Chili oil is most commonly served as a condiment. Depending on your spice tolerance and the ingredients in your chili oil, you’ll only need a few dallops to add some zing to the dish you’re serving.
Can Sriracha be Used in Place of Chili Oil?
We can use Sriracha in place of chili oil.
To use sriracha sauce as a substitute, heat the sriracha sauce with two to three tablespoons of oil. After thoroughly combining the two ingredients, you can use this mixture to substitute for chili oil in any dish!
What is the Best Oil for Chili Oil?
Chili oil can be made with any oil.
Traditional recipes call for soybean or peanut oil to make chili oil. Still, you can also use sunflower, canola, rapeseed, or any other vegetable oil to make chili oil at home.
Where can I Get Hot Chili Oil?
This is a very common condiment found in the “ethnic foods” section of almost any well-stocked grocery store. Of course, you can always order it from Amazon.com and look for the Dynasty brand, which is quite good.
Conclusion
Chili oil is a simple and delicious condiment that We can use to add a touch of spice and flavor to nearly any dish, whether you cook with it or serve it on its own.
You can get very close to the same taste as chili oil by using these hot chili oil substitutes and serving it with your favorite dishes with relative ease.
You have more control over the dish’s taste because you can adjust how spicy it is and what extra flavors you add.
