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A Beginner’s Guide to Chili Crunch Sauce

A Beginner’s Guide to Chili Crunch Sauce

September 16 2024

There’s been a lot of talk about chili crunch sauce in the last few years as it became popular as a topping for almost every savory food—and some sweet foods—under the sun. Let’s shed some light on what this deliciously fiery sauce is, what makes it different from chili crisp, and just a few of the ways you can make your next meal taste like tingly, spicy magic.

What Is Chili Crunch Sauce?

Chili crunch is an infused oil with a tingling and slightly spicy taste and crunchy bits of garlic and onion that add both umami and a unique texture to the combination. Its tantalizing crunch makes even the softest dish more toothsome for those who want their next batch of Chinese comfort food to have an extra crunchy kick.

Okay, But What Is Chili Crisp Sauce?

By contrast, chili crisp tends to focus more on the splash of heat involved in a good chili oil. It has multiple types of fried chilis and a few aromatics so the spice is the star of the show. The frying process will make the peppers crispy, but that’s the limit of the sauce’s texture capabilities.

Are They the Same?

Not exactly. The two chili sauces have slightly different ingredients in most cases. In turn, both have a unique flavor profile and mouthfeel.

Chili crisp is a flavor bomb of spice that adds heat and a bit of texture to your favorite dish. On the other hand, chili crunch is savory, salty, and spicy, with a nuanced flavor and a bright, garlicky aroma. Our own taste testers have confirmed it has an Asian spice level of five out of 10—though your results may vary depending on your individual level of spice tolerance.

While both sauces provide a delightful amount of heat, we tend to prefer chili crunch because we’re texture people by nature.

A Super Brief History of Chili Garlic Crunch Sauces

Flavored oils have been used in China for thousands of years, where cooks would use ingredients like garlic or Sichuan peppers to make even the most basic meals more adventurous. However, chili oil in its more recent iterations wouldn’t have arrived in China before the 16th century, as peppers originated in North America.

However, once peppers finally made their way around the world, Chinese food-lovers began using them to make food last longer and taste better. While the exact origins of chili crunch are a bit unclear, it’s not unfair to think that a few enterprising chefs would have created the combination out of curiosity and discovered just how great it can be with almost any dish.

Ways to Use Chili Crunch Sauce

As the Best Chili Oil Sauce for Dumplings

Chili oil dipping sauce is one of the best possible ways to zhuj up a soup dumpling—or add an extra spice level to any other type of dumpling. While any sauce is a good dipping sauce in theory, the combination of chilis, garlic, and onion in chili crunch is the perfect way to do that and add another layer to the already complex flavors of your favorite xiao long bao.

In the mood for some potstickers? Chili crunch is the perfect way to dress up the flavor of our potstickers near the end of the cooking process, whether you’re drizzling it over a batch of pan-fried dumplings or using it as a dipping sauce. 

Top Chinese Noodles with Chili Oil Sauce

Want a change of pace with your favorite brand of Chinese noodles? Chili crunch complements any noodle dish with a bit of savory heat that will sate your inner spice fiend. It turns a simple bowl of dan dan or scallion oil noodles into a complete meal with a full range of flavors.

Chili crunch also adds a crunchiness you can hear with every bite. Every batch requires hours of simmering time so you get the perfect combination of savory heat with every bowl of noodles you make.

Turn the Heat Up on Fried Rice

Trying to get rid of some leftovers in your fridge or freezer but want to add a bit of sass to your fried rice before plating it up? Chili crunch oil has you covered.  It’s the perfect finishing sauce for a fresh plate of fried rice and contrasts the saltiness or brininess of the flavors you add with a delicious dose of numbing heat.

Drizzle Italian Pasta with Chili Crunch

Chili crunch has no trouble stepping outside the world of Chinese food—because a lot of people really will put it on anything. One of the most notable dishes that can benefit from the addition of chili crunch is a humble plate of pasta. Whether you’re trying add an edge to your next batch of seafood pasta or you want to put some extra heat on that mid-week plate of spaghetti aglio e olio, chili crunch will liven up the party with just a few drizzles.

Add Some Spice to Your Salad

If after a few days of using it you find yourself nearing the bottom of a jar of chili crisp, don’t worry. Those leftover bits of onion, garlic, and chili are the perfect way to heat up a sesame-based dressing. Simply combine a bit of chili crunch with a few other Chinese pantry staples like sesame oil and rice wine vinegar and you’ll have a quick, flavorful way to get more fresh vegetables in your life while making your salad a bit crunchier.

Spice Up Your Life with Our Chili Crunch Sauce

Ready to make your next batch of dumplings or noodles sizzle? Order a bottle of our small-batch chili crunch sauce today and take the heat up a notch in an unforgettable way.