[CH] Hot Oil explained
Goslowsky, George (gjgoslow@intergraph.com)
Tue, 17 Jul 2001 09:17:22 -0500
Sorry for the obtuse instructions for making chile oil. I hope that this
will make things clearer.
Ingredients & necessary items
crock pot
wire strainer
cheese cloth
1 - 2 qts canola oil, depending on the size of your crock pot
2 - 4 cups loosely packed japone chiles, depending on how much oil you
will be using
The types and amounts of chiles used here are an subject to change
according to your whim. I regularly use a blend of chiles for a more
flavorful oil. A typical example would be 80% japone and 5% each of ancho,
pasilla, smoked hab and chiltepin. I usually slightly crush the chiles
before use as well. So fill your crock pot to just short of capacity,
leaving enough room for the chiles, turn on high and allow the oil to get
hot enough to make the chiles sizzle slightly. Turn down the setting to low
and let it go. I usually only leave the crock pot on when I am home and
awake, but while I'm asleep or at work, they are still sitting there soaking
nicely.
By the third day, after they have cooled, I will strain there large pieces
of chile out of the oil using the wire strainer. Then restrain it using the
cheese cloth until there are no longer any particles suspended in the oil.
I have found that this residue of dried chile will smoke when heated to
high. After all the straining has been done, I return the oil to the
original bottle for storage. It will keep indefinitely.
I then tap off enough oil from the original bottle to fill a glass
wine-like bottle with little chiles painted on it that has an oil stopper.
The oil will normally have taken on a red tinge to it's gold color. Very
nice looking.
As for using this stuff, I literally use it for everything. Whenever I
cook, it is the only oil I use, except for when I deep fry. It is great in
pancake and waffle batter, cake batter, for popping corn, or in anything
else that calls for oil.
George J. Goslowsky
Senior Software Analyst
Intergraph Corp.
I am made from the dust of stars and the oceans flow in my veins