Red Chile Oil Recipes

HOW TO MAKE CHILI OIL

Steps:

• Gather all the aromatics you plan to use. Place oil and selected aromatics into a pot with at least two inches of clearance between the oil and the rim of the pot. If using minimum aromatics, 1 ½ cups of oil should do it. If using all the aromatics, you can add up to 3 cups of oil.
• Set it over medium heat to start, then progressively lower it to medium low or low heat as the oil comes to temperature. The oil should be at about 225-250° F / 110-120° C and causing small bubbles to slowly rise from the aromatics. If you notice the spices sizzling more vigorously than that or turning dark too quickly, reduce the heat to cool it down. If you are not achieving small bubbles, slowly increase the heat. Hovering around 200-225° F is the safest way to prevent burning. Infuse the aromatics this way for a minimum of 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour for best results.
• While the oil is infusing, prepare your Sichuan chili flakes by placing them in a heatproof bowl. If you used 1½ cups of oil, ¾ cup of chili flakes is best. For 3 cups of oil, use 1¼ cups of chili flakes. You can experiment within this range (if you like more oil and fewer flakes, for instance).
• Generally, the oil should be between 225-250° F (110-120° C) when pouring over the chili flakes. If you like a darker color, opt for 250-275° F/135° C. If your chili flakes are already super roasted, you may want to be closer to 225° F/110° C. When in doubt, test the oil on a small bowl of chili flakes before you do the rest. Carefully pour the hot oil through a strainer onto the chili flakes. Stir to evenly distribute the heat of the oil. You'll know you've gotten it right when you smell a "popcorn"-like smell that is not at all burnt-smelling.
• Stir in the salt, and allow the chili oil to cool. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Always use a clean utensil when handling to prevent spoilage. It can last for up to 6 months if handled in this way.

HOW TO MAKE CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a clean, dry glass bowl or jar and place the crushed chile peppers in it.
• In a small saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat for a few minutes, just until it begins to smoke. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the oil to cool in the pan for a minute or two. Be mindful that olive oil has a low smoking point and if heated up too much for too long, its flavor can change.
• Slowly and carefully pour the oil over the crushed chile peppers, making sure that the oil completely covers them. If necessary, use a spoon to stir so that all the chile is submerged. If using the whole chiles, add them now, and stir.
• Set the oil aside to cool for at least an hour or two.
• Once cooled, you can taste the oil. If it's to your liking, strain the oil to remove the crushed chile peppers. If you'd like more heat and flavor, cover the oil and allow it to infuse overnight or for as long as desired before straining-if choosing to do so, as the crushed chile will settle on the bottom of the jar, and you can use it along with the oil as a condiment.
• Once strained, store the oil in a clean, airtight glass container. If you used whole dried chile peppers, they can be returned to the oil to gradually intensify its color and flavor. If left unstrained, the infusion will continue to mature, and the heat factor will amplify.

NEW MEXICO RED CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Coat the bottom of a heavy saucepan with oil; add chile pods. Toast over medium heat until aromatic, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in onion and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add enough chicken stock to allow pods to float; simmer until they develop the texture of wet leather, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Fill blender halfway with chile-stock mixture. Cover and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend. Pour into a bowl; repeat with remaining mixture. Strain sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a saucepan over medium heat. Discard solids.
• Stir cumin, coriander, and oregano into the saucepan; add honey. Cook until sauce is thick and evenly coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes.

MOM'S RED CHILE CHILAQUILES

Steps:

• Preheat a small skillet on medium-high heat. Pour in the grapeseed oil and add the onion. Let the onions sizzle and saute slightly until golden brown. Add the Chips on top of the onions and stir.
• Add Mom's Red Chile Sauce over the top of the chips and simmer for 20 seconds. Pour the contents of the skillet into a serving bowl.
• Using serving tongs, add the Pulled Pork to the top of the chips.
• Add the avocado on top of the pork, then set the Poached Egg on top of the avocado slices.
• Sprinkle the chopped scallions and queso fresco over the top of the chips. Add small dollops of the Onion Date Jam on top of the chips.
• Add the microgreens to garnish the top of the egg.
• Cut each tortilla into 6 triangular pieces. Put aside.
• In a deep saucepot, add the oil and heat on medium-high heat until the oil is at 350 degrees F or is creating movement in the pot, 15 to 20 minutes. Add some of the tortilla triangles to the oil. Let fry, moving them around with a long-handled metal slotted spoon or spider, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to a sheet pan lined with paper towels to absorb the oil. While chips are still hot and slightly oily, sprinkle a generous amount of salt over them. Repeat the process with the remaining tortilla pieces.
• Add the chile pods to 6 cups of the filtered water in a pot. Bring to a boil, then let boil until the chile pods soften, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool for 30 minutes before adding to a blender. Confirm that the blender top is snugly fitted before blending. Holding a folded kitchen towel on top of the blender lid, turn the blender on low speed, gently blending the water and pods together until a bright red puree develops. Pour the blended puree mixture through a sieve into a deep container to catch the chile puree. Press the chile pod skins with the back of a rubber spatula against the sieve to extract the maximum amount of red chile puree.
• Transfer the puree to a saucepan, then add the remaining 1 cup filtered water on low heat and whisk in the cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano and salt.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a baking dish, put the cushion meat. Pour 3 cups water over the meat, then make the dry rub. In a bowl, combine the cumin, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Pinch generous amounts of dry rub and press onto the cushion meat, coating the top and sides thoroughly.
• Cover with foil and bake for 4 hours. Remove the baking dish and let sit for 30 minutes before pulling the meat apart with 2 forks. Mix the shredded pork with the pan drippings in the baking dish.
• Heat 2 cups water in a saucepan on high heat and bring to a boil. Add the vinegar and stir the water in a counterclockwise motion. Crack open the egg into a small bowl. Pour the egg out of the bowl into the whirlpool of boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. Scoop out and add to the Chilaquiles or serve on top of toast.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil, then onions and dates. Stir and cook until the onions have caramelized into a dark golden brown color, about 25 minutes.
• Add the filtered water and bring to a boil. Add the raw sugar and stir until it has dissolved and the onion date jam has cooked down and is thick and caramelized.

RED-CHILE OIL

Steps:

• Heat oil with red-pepper flakes in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, swirling pan occasionally, until red-pepper flakes begin to sizzle, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour into a heatproof bowl and cool to room temperature. Stir before using.