Ingredients
- dried kashmiri chillies 30, (see cook's notes)
- Szechuan peppercorns 2 tbsp
- cumin seeds 2 tbsp
- black peppercorns 1 tbsp
- star anise 3
- salted peanuts 50g, roughly chopped
- ginger 2 thumb-sized pieces, finely chopped
- sea salt flakes 1 tbsp
- soft light brown sugar 2 tbsp
- groundnut oil 600ml
- echalion shallots 3, halved and thinly sliced
- garlic 10 cloves, thinly sliced
Method
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Step 1
Use a pair of kitchen scissors to cut open the chillies then remove and reserve the seeds. Pulse (or grind with a pestle and mortar) the skins, discarding any stalks, until the consistency of shop-bought dried chilli flakes. Tip into a large bowl. Toast the szechuan peppercorns, cumin seeds and black peppercorns in a frying pan until smelling toasty, then tip into the spice grinder and whizz into a powder. Tip into the bowl with the star anise, peanuts, ginger, salt and sugar, as well as half of the reserved chilli seeds, or more if you prefer it hotter.
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Step 2
Heat the groundnut oil until shimmering and put a metal sieve over a heatproof bowl. Cook the shallots for 4-5 minutes, stirring, until crispy, golden and caramelised. Carefully pour the oil and shallots through the sieve into the bowl and leave to drain for a minute. Carefully pour the oil back into the pan and heat until shimmering again. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until golden, but not too dark, then pour through the sieve. Tip the shallots and garlic into the bowl with the chillies, and cool the oil for 10-15 minutes until warm but not hot, then pour this into the bowl and mix well.
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Step 3
Divide this between two 250ml sterilised jars and allow to cool completely. It is ready to eat once cool, but will keep in the fridge for a month.
Cook's notes
- Dried kashmiri chillies are mild chillies that give food a vivid red colour – they are available online and from Asian supermarkets.
Drizzle your oil over a homemade pizza
