08.20.2021
Five Ways To Use Crushed Red Chiles
Easy ideas for crushed red chiles: make chile oil, spicy butter, hot honey, marinades and pickles plus tips for heat control and storage.
- Crushed red chiles add moderate heat and bright color to many dishes and are great as a condiment or an ingredient.
- Use them to make chile oil, spicy compound butter, hot honey, marinades, and pickles with simple ratios and short cook times.
- Control heat by adjusting quantity, balancing with acid or sugar, and storing flakes airtight to preserve flavor.
Crushed red chiles—also known as red pepper flakes—are those hot little specks we all love sprinkling over our pizza, pasta, noodles, and avocado toast. While these chile flakes make for an outstanding condiment, there are so many creative things a cook can do with this staple spice. If you have a favorite way to cook with this spice, let us know in the comments below.
Crushed Red Chiles
Crushed red pepper flakes are an icon of Italian family restaurant tables. Their use as a condiment originated in Bukovo, a village in North Macedonia, where the spicy red peppers grow abundantly. This cheery mix of flakes and seeds adds moderate heat to tomato sauce, homemade sausage, and, of course, pizza!
Make Your Own Chile Oil
Chile oil, or sometimes called chili crisp, is a fiery and flavorful condiment. Recipes vary in sophistication and ingredients, but the basic preparation is to fry equal parts freshly minced garlic and crushed red chiles in a neutral oil. This spicy savory oil is especially popular in Chinese cuisine. It adds the perfect kick of flavor and heat to steam buns, pot stickers, sautéed veggies, noodles, and fried eggs.
Spicy Compound Butter
This recipe is as simple as whipping your pepper flakes into softened butter—although we like to toss in some honey, granulated garlic, and smoked paprika too. Spicy compound butter is perfect for adding to the top of a steak, slathering over fried chicken, or sautéing your favorite veggies.
Hot Chile Honey
Simply simmer a cup of honey with a teaspoon or two of crushed red chiles for about an hour. Keep the heat on low and don’t let the sugars burn. After an hour, cool the honey and strain the flakes if desired. The sweet heat of this honey is delicious when drizzled over cheese boards, fried chicken, fruit salads, and even pepperoni pizza.
Spicy Meat Marinades
Making the perfect marinade is surprisingly easy. Marinades can be crafted from combinations of oil, acid, salt, sugar, spices, herbs. Three parts oil to one part acid is the general rule with most marinades. Crushed Red chiles add a speck of color and splash of heat to homemade marinades. Try making a simple lemony marinade for chicken and fish by whisking together the juice of one lemon and a third of a cup of oil. Add a teaspoon each of salt, granulated garlic and crushed red chile flakes and you’re ready to marinate succulent chicken.
Hot Pepper Pickles
Similar to marinades, you can toss in a bit of red pepper flakes to any pickle brine marinade. The simplest pickle marinade follows a 3-2-1 method—3 parts vinegar, 2 parts water, and 1 part sugar. From there you can try adding your favorite spices and experimenting with your favorite vegetables. A red pepper flake pickle brine is great with sliced sweet onions and cucumbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are crushed red chiles and where do they come from?
Crushed red chiles, also called red pepper flakes, are dried, coarsely crushed hot peppers including seeds. Their use as a table condiment is linked to Bukovo, a village in North Macedonia, and they became popular on Italian restaurant tables worldwide.
How do I make chile oil with crushed red chiles?
Fry equal parts minced garlic and crushed red chiles briefly in a neutral oil until fragrant, then let the oil cool and infuse. Use it on noodles, dumplings, roasted veggies, or eggs. Strain if you want a clear oil or leave the solids for more texture like chili crisp.
What is an easy hot chile honey recipe?
Simmer 1 cup honey with 1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red chiles over low heat for about an hour, stirring occasionally so the sugars do not burn. Cool and strain if you prefer a smooth honey. Drizzle on cheese boards, fried chicken, fruit, or pizza.
How do I make spicy compound butter with crushed red chiles?
Soften butter and stir in crushed red chiles to taste. You can add honey, granulated garlic, and smoked paprika for extra flavor. Chill until firm and use on steak, fried chicken, grilled corn, or sautéed vegetables.
How should I use crushed red chiles in marinades and pickles?
For marinades follow a 3 to 1 oil to acid ratio as a starting point. Example: whisk lemon juice with about a third cup oil plus 1 teaspoon each salt, granulated garlic, and crushed chiles. For quick pickles use a 3-2-1 brine of 3 parts vinegar, 2 parts water, 1 part sugar and add flakes to taste.
How hot are crushed red chiles and how can I reduce their heat?
They typically deliver moderate heat that builds as they sit in a dish. To reduce heat use less, add them late in cooking, or balance the heat with dairy, sugar, or acid. Because flakes already include seeds, removing heat by seed removal is not practical.
How should I store crushed red chiles and how long do they keep?
Store flakes in an airtight container in a cool, dark place away from direct heat and light. They keep safely for many months, but flavor and heat start to fade after about 6 to 12 months. For longer storage, keep them refrigerated or frozen.
What exactly are crushed red chiles and where do they come from?
Crushed red chiles, also called red pepper flakes, are dried, coarsely crushed hot peppers including seeds. Their use as a table condiment is linked to Bukovo, a village in North Macedonia, and they became popular on Italian restaurant tables worldwide.
How do I make chile oil with crushed red chiles?
Fry equal parts minced garlic and crushed red chiles briefly in a neutral oil until fragrant, then let the oil cool and infuse. Use it on noodles, dumplings, roasted veggies, or eggs. Strain if you want a clear oil or leave the solids for more texture like chili crisp.
What is an easy hot chile honey recipe?
Simmer 1 cup honey with 1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red chiles over low heat for about an hour, stirring occasionally so the sugars do not burn. Cool and strain if you prefer a smooth honey. Drizzle on cheese boards, fried chicken, fruit, or pizza.
How do I make spicy compound butter with crushed red chiles?
Soften butter and stir in crushed red chiles to taste. You can add honey, granulated garlic, and smoked paprika for extra flavor. Chill until firm and use on steak, fried chicken, grilled corn, or sautéed vegetables.
How should I use crushed red chiles in marinades and pickles?
For marinades follow a 3 to 1 oil to acid ratio as a starting point. Example: whisk lemon juice with about a third cup oil plus 1 teaspoon each salt, granulated garlic, and crushed chiles. For quick pickles use a 3-2-1 brine of 3 parts vinegar, 2 parts water, 1 part sugar and add flakes to taste.
How hot are crushed red chiles and how can I reduce their heat?
They typically deliver moderate heat that builds as they sit in a dish. To reduce heat use less, add them late in cooking, or balance the heat with dairy, sugar, or acid. Because flakes already include seeds, removing heat by seed removal is not practical.
How should I store crushed red chiles and how long do they keep?
Store flakes in an airtight container in a cool, dark place away from direct heat and light. They keep safely for many months, but flavor and heat start to fade after about 6 to 12 months. For longer storage, keep them refrigerated or frozen.
thanks for sharing, ruesch family