How to Make Chile Oil

By
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih is a writer and cooking class instructor with a background in Moroccan cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/11/24
Tested by
Renae Wilson
Photo of Renae E. Wilson
Tested by Renae Wilson
Renae has certifications in both Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and works as a private chef and caterer, recipe tester and developer, and food writer. Renae has written and developed recipes for Rachael Ray In Season, the Kitchn, Food52, and more.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Cool Time: 60 mins
Total: 75 mins
Servings: 20 servings

Chile oil's introduction into the Moroccan food landscape might logically have come from neighboring Italy, where the equivalent olio di peperoncino is a standard condiment in restaurants. But Chinese cuisine and its omnipresent use of chile oil might have played a role in how Northern African food is prepared and served.

Red chile oil dripping off a wooden spoon into a glass jar with the oil

The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

The beauty of this oil is that you can control what goes in it and avoid unwanted preservatives, and you can alter the spice level to make it as light or strong as you'd like. While other recipes use several spices to flavor the oil, our simple recipe offers an easy method for making Italian-style chile oil—fragrant and spicy, ideal for adding a kick to your favorite meals.

The recipe easily doubles or triples, and you may adjust the ratio of chile pepper to oil to taste. You can also experiment with different dried chile peppers to yield varying flavor and heat.

Chile oils, no matter their origin and different aromatic flavor profiles, are great condiments to accompany bread, pasta, dumplings, pizza, handheld savory pies, or empanadas. They also make fiery additions to soups, dips, and sauces.

What You'll Need to Make This Chile Oil Recipe
Measuring cups we recommend on a purple background
A Nice Set of Measuring Cups
Small saucepans we recommend on a purple background
A Small Saucepan
Bormioli Rocco Fido Glass Canning Jar
An Airtight Container

"So happy to have this in my pantry. So easy to make, and a fine way to save some pennies." —Renae Wilson

Chile Oil Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons crushed dried red chile peppers

  • 1/4 cup whole dried red chile peppers

  • 1 1/4 cups olive oil, preferably extra virgin

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for chile oil recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  2. Prepare a clean, dry glass bowl or jar and place 3 tablespoons of crushed dried chile peppers and 1/4 cup whole dried red chile peppers.

    Dried whole chiles and crushed chiles in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  3. In a small saucepan, heat 1 1/4 cups olive oil over medium heat for a few minutes, until it begins to smoke. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the oil to cool for a minute or two. Be mindful that olive oil has a low smoking point and if heated for too long, the flavor may change.

    Oil in a saucepan on a burner, bowls with dried chiles to the side

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  4. Slowly and carefully pour the oil over the crushed chile peppers, making sure that the oil completely covers them. If necessary, use a spoon to stir so that all the chile is submerged. If using the whole chiles, add them now, and stir.

    Oil being poured over whole and crushed chiles in the bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  5. Set the oil aside to cool for at least an hour or two. 

    Chiles steeping in oil in the bowl, with whole chiles floating on top

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  6. Once cooled, you can taste the oil. If it's to your liking, strain the oil to remove the crushed chile peppers. If you'd like more heat and flavor, cover the oil and allow it to infuse overnight or for as long as desired before straining—if choosing to do so, as the crushed chile will settle on the bottom of the jar, and you can use it along with the oil as a condiment.

    Chiles being strained through a metal strainer into a measuring cup

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

  7. Once strained, store the oil in a clean, airtight glass container. If you used whole dried chile peppers, they can be returned to the oil to gradually intensify its color and flavor. If left unstrained, the infusion will continue to mature, and the heat factor will amplify.

    Red chile oil in a glass jar, wooden lid with rubber ring to the side

    The Spruce Eats / Nyssa Tanner

How to Store Chile Oil

  • The chile oil will keep at room temperature for two to three months if the jar you used was properly sterilized before using. It will keep in the fridge for up to six months.
  • If you didn't use a sterile bottle, an airtight container and the fridge are your best options for storage.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • To make chile oil with fresh chile peppers - Take a small handful of fresh red hot peppers and make a long slit lengthwise in each one. Add them to your bowl or jar instead of dried chile peppers. Once the oil has been infused with the fresh chilis and herbs, continue to store in the fridge.
  • For a spicy and aromatic oil - dried rosemary, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, dried thyme, dried oregano, juniper berries, whole peppercorns, dried marjoram, and dried sage. Mix and match, experiment, and make your favorite recipe for a delicious condiment.
  • For a deeper red hue - Asian-style chile oil has a deeper hue than its Italian cousin. . If you want to intensify the color of the Italian version, replace some of the crushed chile pepper with ground cayenne (felfla sudaniya) or hot paprika (piment fort or felfla harra). The more finely ground the chile peppers, the more intense the color of the oil will be.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
121 Calories
14g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20
Amount per serving
Calories 121
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 2mg 11%
Calcium 1mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 13mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)