Chili oil is one of those ingredients that sounds specific but works on almost everything. If you bought a jar and only used it on noodles, you're leaving a lot on the table. Here are ten ways to actually use it.
1. Fried eggs This is the one. Crack two eggs into a pan, let the whites set, and spoon Boon Sauce over the top before serving. The oil pools into the yolk and the heat balances the richness. Takes 30 seconds.
2. Rice Plain rice, chili oil, a little soy sauce if you want. That's a meal. It sounds too simple and it isn't.
3. Avocado toast Salt, lemon, chili oil. Skip the red pepper flakes you've been using and try this instead.
4. Pizza After it comes out of the oven. Drizzle it over the top the way you would with a finishing olive oil. Works especially well on anything with cheese or sausage.
5. Dumplings Mix chili oil with a little rice vinegar and soy sauce for a dipping sauce that's better than anything that comes in a packet.
6. Noodles Any noodles. Ramen, udon, soba, instant. Toss them with chili oil, sesame, and scallions. Done in the time it takes the noodles to cook.
7. Marinades Add a spoonful to your marinade for chicken, pork, or tofu. The oil carries the heat into the protein and it comes through on the other side even after cooking.
8. Roasted vegetables Toss vegetables in chili oil before roasting instead of plain olive oil. Broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potato all work particularly well.
9. Soup A spoonful stirred into any broth-based soup right before serving. Ramen, pho, tomato soup, even lentil soup. It adds depth and warmth without overpowering the base.
10. Straight from the spoon Not a joke. If you want to know what a chili oil actually tastes like, try it on its own first. A small spoonful tells you everything about what you're working with and how to use it.
Boon Sauce Original works for all of the above. Spice level 6/10, made in small batches in Los Angeles. If you want more heat, Xtra Hot handles everything on this list with a 9/10 burn.