Peel the shallots and slice them very thinly, preferably with a mandoline, to get nice even slices.
Mix the finely sliced shallots with the peanut oil in the baking accessory or a heatproof dish for your air fryer.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 160°C until the shallots are golden brown and crispy. Stir halfway through and keep a close eye on them to prevent burning.
Meanwhile, put the garlic, ginger, chili flakes, cinnamon, sugar, paprika powder and sesame seeds in a heatproof bowl or jar.
Remove the hot oil with the crispy shallots from the air fryer and immediately pour it over the spice mix.
Stir well so that the garlic, ginger, chili flakes, cinnamon, sugar, paprika powder and sesame seeds release their flavors beautifully into the oil.
Let cool completely and scoop everything into a clean, sealable jar.
Store the crispy chili oil in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before use.
Tips
- Use a mandoline for extra fine shallots; this will make them crispier faster.
- Do not let the oil darken too much, otherwise, it will develop a bitter taste.
- This chili oil is delicious over noodles, rice, dumplings, pizza, pasta, or on a fried egg.
- Also great as a finishing touch on soup, grilled vegetables, or roasted potatoes.
- Want it spicier? Add extra chili flakes.
- Storage
In the refrigerator: Keeps for up to 2 weeks in a tightly sealed, clean jar.
In the freezer: Not recommended, as the texture of the crispy shallots will be lost. - Reheating: Allow to come to room temperature or briefly warm in a bain-marie until the oil becomes liquid again.