Noodlepedia
A glossary of both familiar and lesser-known Asian ingredients and terms.
Chili Oil
A bold, fragrant oil infused with dried chilies, garlic, and spices—adds heat and flavor.
Pro Tip: Try it on vanilla ice cream for a surprising sweet-heat combo!
How to Use It:
- Drizzle over noodles or dumplings
- Stir into soups or ramen
- Spoon onto eggs, rice, or pizza
1. Chili Oil Fried Eggs over Garlic Rice
Vibe: Lazy brunch meets bold flavor. Crispy eggs with lacy edges, spicy-sizzling chili oil, and garlicky rice? You’ll be obsessed.
🛒 Ingredients:
2 eggs
1–2 tbsp chili oil (with crunchy bits!)
1–2 cups cooked rice (day-old works great)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp soy sauce
Pinch of salt
Optional: green onions, sesame seeds, avocado
👩🍳 Instructions:
In a hot pan, add a bit of neutral oil and the garlic. Sauté until golden, then toss in the rice. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes.
Add soy sauce and mix well. Set rice aside on a plate.
In the same pan, heat chili oil until it shimmers. Crack in your eggs and let them sizzle until the edges are crisp and the yolks are just set.
Slide eggs over the rice, drizzle with more chili oil, and top with scallions or avocado if you’re fancy.
🔥 Why it slaps: You’re letting the chili oil do the heavy lifting. Minimal effort, big payoff.
2. Spicy Chili Oil Udon with Crunchy Veggies
Vibe: Cold or hot noodle magic. Chewy noodles coated in savory-spicy sauce, finished with fresh crunch and a ton of umami.
🛒 Ingredients:
1 pack store-bought udon noodles
1–2 tbsp chili oil (more if you like heat!)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp honey or sugar
1/2 cucumber, julienned
1 small carrot, shredded
Optional: crushed peanuts, cilantro, lime
👩🍳 Instructions:
Cook udon noodles, rinse under cold water, and drain.
In a bowl, whisk together chili oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey.
Toss noodles in the sauce until fully coated.
Top with cucumber, carrot, and any extras—like peanuts or cilantro.
Serve chilled or room temp. Squeeze lime over if you’re feelin’ it.
💥 Why people love it: It’s quick, bold, refreshing and satisfying—like the noodle bowl version of a spicy salad.