The Textural Difference Between Chili Crisp And Chili Crunch - Tasting Table (2024)

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The Textural Difference Between Chili Crisp And Chili Crunch - Tasting Table? ›

While both chili crisp and chili crunch may, at first glance, appear to be similar oily-based mixtures of peppers and spice in jars, the inclusion of peanuts, soybeans, and sesame seeds take chili crunch to a chewier level than the crispy spoonfuls of chili crisp.

Chili crisp is a condiment consisting of oil infused with peppers and other flavorful, often crispy, crunchy ingredients. It is also sometimes called “chili crunch,” “chili oil” and “chili sauce,” with crunches and crisps tending to have a higher ratio of crispy bits to oil (though not always).

For those unfamiliar with chile crisp, it's a spicy, crunchy, oily condiment that adds texture, heat, and a uniquely savory taste to food, and chile crisp brands achieve wildly different flavor profiles despite using similar ingredients.

Momof*cku Chili Crunch

Ellie Crowley in the Test Kitchen explains that “the heat is balanced by sweet, salty and garlicy flavors.” A spoonful also tastes of toasted sesame and shallots.

“And we named it chili crunch because it was out of deference to chili crisp, which we associated with as Chinese, specifically carved out by Lao Gan Ma.” Lao Gan Ma hasn't sought to trademark the name of its oil in the U.S., though it has taken steps to protect the logo associated with it.

Chili crisp is an infused oil condiment that usually contains crunchy, flavorful bits of peppers, onions or scallions, garlic and other aromatics. “Chili crisp,” “chili oil and “chili sauce” can often be used interchangeably, but generally what differentiates chili crisp is the ratio of crispy bits to oil.

Even though some brands of chili crisp are shelf-stable, proper storage is the best way to preserve the intense heat and diversity of flavors, not to mention the obsession-worthy crunch.

It is related to chili oil and to chili sauce, and sometimes the terms are used interchangeably to refer to it. Chili crisp's proportions are such that the condiment contains much more crunchy bits than oil, which creates the texture of the condiment.

Regular old red pepper flakes can do the job, but some of the better chili crisps go the extra mile with dried chilies such as ancho, chiles de arbol, guajillo, japones, morita, kashmiri red, Thai red chilies, and more.

Basically, it's the umami flavor. A funky, addictive part of the taste spectrum.

Do I refrigerate Momof*cku chili crunch? ›

Chili Crunch, Black Truffle Chili Crunch, Extra Spicy Chili Crunch and Liquids products can be refrigerated after opening.

As one of many Trader Joe's superfans, I was particularly excited when I found out about their version of chili crisp, called Crunchy Chili Onion. It's not spicy compared to common chili crisps, such as Fly By Jing's, but it is textured and filled with lots of crispy bits.

Lao Gan Ma, a brand of chili sauces, is credited with popularizing chili crisp. It was first bottled in China's Guizhou province in 1997 and became a favorite condiment in recent years due to the influx of new Asian restaurants and recipes on social media that included it as an ingredient.

While both chili crisp and chili crunch may, at first glance, appear to be similar oily-based mixtures of peppers and spice in jars, the inclusion of peanuts, soybeans, and sesame seeds take chili crunch to a chewier level than the crispy spoonfuls of chili crisp.

The company faces allegations of bullying small businesses over the trademark for "Chile Crunch." They issued cease-and-desist letters to several food brands using similar titles, causing uproar among small-scale businesses like Homiah, led by Michelle Tew.

According to the Guardian, the brand sent cease-and-desist letters to companies using the term “chili crunch” and “chile crunch” and was hoping to successfully trademark the former. (It purchased the trademark for the latter in 2023 from Chile Colonial, a company that now licenses the product name from Momof*cku.)

As one of many Trader Joe's superfans, I was particularly excited when I found out about their version of chili crisp, called Crunchy Chili Onion. It's not spicy compared to common chili crisps, such as Fly By Jing's, but it is textured and filled with lots of crispy bits.