What is chili oil - Recipe, health benefits, and more

Chili oil makes everything better. From noodles to dimsums, baos to eggs, a drizzle of chili oil makes everything taste better and more flavourful. Chili oil is a condiment which is made using vegetable oil that has been infused with chili peppers. However, there are many variations to it. Some also add herbs or chili flakes, as per their requirement. 

Chili oil is commonly used in Chinese cuisine, Southeast-asian cuisine. With time, however, it is becoming more common and being used in more and more recipes. Many egg recipes have also emerged where chili oil is extensively used. 

Initially, it was popular in western Chinese cuisines such as Sichuan cuisine, Hunan cuisine, Guizhou cuisine, and Shaanxi cuisine.

How to prepare chili oil

The secret to an authentic chili oil recipe is to infuse the oil with a special blend of aromatics first. Once done, pour it over the Sichuan crushed chili flakes. The benefit of using these flakes is that they are brighter red and enhance the colour. Also, it has fewer seeds thus making it more flavourful.

Benefits of chili oil 

Chili oil is not just a flavour enhancer but also comes with multiple benefits. 

• Weight management: The capsaicin in chili oil enhances metabolism, which helps in burning calories. It also reduces appetite which facilitates weight loss. 
• Pain relief: Capsaicin, again, is a compound which helps in discarding pain and discomfort. Basically, it obstructs pain signals sent to the brain.
• Heart health: According to a few studies, chili oil helps in lowering blood pressure and also has been associated with decreasing heart-related illness.
• Anti-inflammatory benefits: This dish combats inflammation, which can alleviate conditions such as arthritis. 
• Sinus and congestion: The spicier the chili oil, the better it is to clear congestion. Capsaicin even helps people with respiratory issues.