The next part involves pouring very hot oil – so take care. Put the rest of your ingredients in a large heatproof container (metal or borosilicate glass are best). As you gradually pour the hot oil over them, the mixture will bubble up and instantly infuse, searing the spices as it does so to ensure a crispier sediment. This flash-infusion gets as much flavour out of the aromatics as possible. This is probably the most popular Lao Gan Ma product outside of China. It combines chilies and fermented soybeans with garlic and onions. The sauce does have an irresistibly “crisp” texture. She was born into a poor family in a remote mountain village and did not fully learn to read or write. Widowed a few years after marrying her husband and having two kids, she opened a noodle shop to support her family.

Lao Gan Ma, (老干妈) or “old godmother” is a brand of chili sauce. In 1997, founder Tao Huabi ( 陶华碧 ) started her business in Guizhou, China. She’s the very same lady pictured on the label! Next up are your fresh aromatics, of which garlic and shallots are the most important. These provide the majority of the ‘crisp’ along with the chilli flakes and ground spices. Beyond that there’s fresh ginger and – if you like – fresh chillies. These aren’t essential but will add a slightly brighter note to the final flavour. They – and any other fresh ingredients you’re adding apart from the garlic and onion – are both best used as larger pieces to infuse the oil before being discarded.

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Finally, you want to season your oil to help bring out all those infused flavours. A decent amount of salt and some sugar will dissolve nicely into the oil and ensure it’s at its best. Gives a big flavour boost to any broth or warm tomato sauce,” says Lowe of Japan Centre’s white miso. “It’s also good in salad dressings, stirred into vinegar, perhaps with mustard and oil.” This Catalan “pesto” (a ground mix of toasted almonds, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt and freestyle herbs) is, says Shumana Palit, a co-owner of the Ultracomida delis in Wales, terrific for adding depth to sauces, soups and stews. “A spoonful makes everything come to life,” she says. Epicurious has a good recipe.

One of the brand’s most unique varieties, this has chili, peanut, fried beancurd, and preserved root vegetable (the label says it’s rutabaga), to create a uniquely crunchy texture and rich flavor. These “cooked mushrooms doused in fearsomely hot chilli oil and Sichuan pepper” will, promises Nicola Lando, the owner of Sous Chef, banish “food boredom”. Try souschef.co.uk for a jar. Yes, many Lao Gan Ma products have emerged over the years, but there are three main types that are most popular from our perspective. Everyone has their favorite!

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She soon became well-known for the special chili sauce she served with her noodles, set up her own sauce factory, and became a self-made billionaire with an international sauce empire ! We’ve also developed several recipes that use it (scroll down to the bottom of this post for links).

Lao Gan Ma sauces are also very popular outside of China, with many of our food-loving friends here in the U.S. very well-aware of these tasty condiments. Are there different types?Refrigerate these sauces after opening and always use a clean utensil when handling. We find it can last in the fridge for up to 6 months. Honestly, though, it never really lasts that long. Our Favorite Recipes That Use This Ingredient Throwing everything into a pan with the oil and heating it is the classic infusion method, but isn’t the best in this case – by the time your onions and garlic are crisp, the other aromatics will have burnt. A two-step approach works far better, separating fresh ingredients from dried. Begin with a pan of cold oil and add your garlic and shallots (plus anything else fresh). Gradually bring it up to temperature, keeping a close eye on it and using a slotted spoon to whip out the solids as soon as they turn golden. You’ve now got a lovely infused oil, plus a heap of fried, crunchy bits ready to bolster your crispy sediment. It’s rare that we include a particular brand of sauce in our Ingredients Glossary, as we usually write articles about a general ingredient and then suggest brands to try within that category. However, we’re making an exception for Lao Gan Ma chili sauces, because we always have them in our pantry and feature them in several of our recipes! What Is Lao Gan Ma Chili Sauce?