Fragrant-Hot Roasted Ground Chilies (Sichuan Chili Flakes, Xiang La La Jiao Mian)

In Sichuan, chili oil is made from a blend of whole dried chilies that are fried or roasted until crisp and then pounded in a large mortar and pestle before they are combined with hot oil. You can make yours that way using a combination of whole chilies we carry here, but it's safe to say that most of us will enjoy a shortcut. These chilies have already been roasted in rapeseed oil and then ground into a perfect mix of flakes, powder and seeds for use in chili oil or for addition to dishes such as hot pot and dry pot (or, really, any pot!). 

Our blend of chilies is called xiang la, or fragrant hot, and is a mix of three popular Sichuan chilies chosen for their distinct qualities:

• Er jing tiao: very strong coloring ability, strong fragrance
• Zi dan tou: strong coloring ability, strong fragrance, moderate spiciness
• Xiao mi la: strong spiciness

The combination produces a deep-red, moderately hot, very flavorful chili oil, a basic pantry essential used in abundance to dress "liangban" cold dishes, salads, noodles, dumplings, wontons and more. Or if you prefer your chili oil chunky and crunchy, the blend is a must-have for the most flavorful and colorful chili crisp.

Manufactured chili oil cannot compare with homemade and these are the chili flakes for the job, as those from other regions of the world are made and act differently. Most are crushed instead of ground and do not include powder, nor are they roasted before being ground, plus they are often either too mild (Italian) or too hot (Thai) for Sichuan chili oil and cuisine.

See The Mala Market recipes for two-ingredient chili oil the way it's made in Sichuan (with roasted rapeseed oil) and for fragrant chili oil/chili crisp with add-ins. 

Also see our Mala Chili Crisp Kit for all the specialty ingredients you need to make a Sichuan-style chili crisp (see third photo above) or chili oil. 

Note that we previously called these Chili Flakes in keeping with American terminology, but have reverted to Ground Chilies as a more appropriate name. These should be used anytime a recipe calls for Sichuan chili flakes, including all the recipes on our blog. 

Our ground chilies contain no additives or preservatives. Store in a cool, dark place or, for longer term, in the freezer. 

Source: Chilies grown in Guizhou Province and processed in Chengdu, Sichuan
Ingredients: chilies, rapeseed oil
Size: 7 ounces (200 grams); 2 cups by volume