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There are a lot of chili crisp brands out there, and on the English-speaking internet, there’s a high obsession rate with Lao Gan Ma brand. Well, this video from Chinese Cooking Demystified includes a taste test for all 18 products in the brand’s line. I don’t want to spoil it, but let’s just say we might be fixated on the wrong product! Watch, like, subscribe—and then fiendishly scour the internet to find a jar of the stuff they recommend. This channel is a true gift.
Oct 26, 2021
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Like many people over the course of pandemic, I've gotten really into chili crisp over this year, because it makes even the most simple, lazy meal instantly better. The upside of the chili crisp boom is that there are a lot of new options, many of them from small sellers and each with a different approach to flavor and texture. These are my favorites.Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp This is the OG and probably the best entry point into the world of chili crisp, because it's cheap and easy to find at most online retailers and well-stocked grocery stories. This is extremely savory, thanks to MSG (we love it!), and has a nice crunch from fermented soybeans. I love eating this on top of rice with basically any meal, and it's also great on dumplings.Boon Sauce This small batch chili oil is made by LA pastry chef Max Boonthanakit, and while it's not crunchy, it's extremely flavorful due to all the aromatics and the addition of anchovies. I love this on bitter greens or on top of eggs. This is the chili oil to get as a gift, in my opinion. Sze Daddy Eric Sze of the New York City Taiwanese restaurant 886 makes this cult favorite chili sauce that always sells out quickly. With a blend of chiles and star anise, this chili sauce is spicy and super flavorful. Toss this around with some noodles, throw in crispy tofu and scallions if you have 'em, and you've got my go-to weekday lunch.
Dec 1, 2020
Lately I’ve been into the Fly by Jing chili crisp, but the original Lao Gan Ma is unmatched. It improves nearly everything it touches. What’s your favorite one?
Jan 14, 2025
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I wanted to think of one straightforward product recommendation to include and this one sprang right to mind. Salute Lao Gan Ma and Lee Kum Kee -- here at the Spyplane Test Kitchen we keep their chili oils on deck -- but a newer option that is fantastic and way more expensive per ounce, but real talk worth the splurge?? Fly By Jing’s Sichuan Chili Crisp. As with any good chili oil you can put it on stir-fries, pizza, coconut ice cream, etc. It’s made in Chengdu and in addition to classic bedrock ingredients it includes fermented black bean, shallots, mushroom powder, ginger, seaweed, etc...
May 27, 2021
Top Recs from @carla-lalli
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After approximately one thousand years of rolling my eyes at my parents for telling me to write hand-written notes … I am currently super into writing hand-written notes. Short cute ones! No biggie! Write a postcard—people love the stuff! I am also a sucker for a good stamp from the USPS. I know, the nerd levels are peaking right now. But look at these espresso stamps!! They’re so freaking cute!!
Oct 26, 2021
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After making rice literally every night for six months straight starting in (yep) March 2020, I finally invested in a beautiful rice donabe from Toiro. Donabes are Japanese clay pots that have been used to make soups, stews, rice, and other dishes for many hundreds of years. They’re heavy, simple, beautiful, and designed to hold heat and cook foods gently. I can’t say I’m as good at cooking rice in my donabe as I am in the 2-quart saucepan I used to use, but cooking well is all about repetition. I’m going to keep at it!
Oct 26, 2021
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I have always read in bed before lights out, until having a phone ruined all that. Ever since my phone became my alarm clock (several years ago), things have gone steadily downhill. But! I’m trying, and the last few months have reminded me why I love finishing my waking hours tucked in with a book. Recent highlights: The Yellow House, The Vanishing Half, Crying in H Mart, Animal, Three Women, and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.
Oct 26, 2021