Flavor of the Week: Chili Oil

The growth in chili oil on menus has paralleled the rise in global flavors that consumers are increasingly craving. The simple infusion of chili peppers into a neutral oil, typically found in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine, adds contrast and heat to dishes including soups, noodle dishes and salads.

Market research firm Datassential reports that chili oil’s appearance on menus has increased 37% over the past 4 years. It’s now on 3.7% of menus nationwide.

Click through the gallery and watch the video to learn more about chili oil and see how one restaurant is using it on its menu.