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How To Make Chinese Salt And Pepper Chips
These salt and pepper chips (also called salt and chilli chips) are incredibly tasty and very easy to make. It’s made with simple ingredients and the taste is INCREDIBLE!
Who knew chips tossed in Chinese salt and pepper seasoning would taste so good? Every bite has so much flavour! It’s peppery, salty, chilli and full of spices that make these chips taste amazing!
Now you can enjoy delicious Chinese takeaway chips in the comfort of your own home – without the takeaway bill! They’re the perfect side or main to sit back and relax with.
I love having salt and chilli chips with homemade Chinese crispy beef or crispy salt and pepper chicken, it’s the ultimate combination of great tasting flavours.
Why You’ll Like This Recipe
- Well first and foremost who doesn’t love chips?
- This recipe is super quick and easy.
- You can adjust the chillies and spices to your own taste.
- You can make salt and pepper chips with oven chips, sweet potatoes, fresh potatoes (and other vegetables like parsnips).
Watch How To Make It
Where Does Salt And Pepper Chips Come From?
Salt and pepper chips are a British favourite sold in many Chinese takeaway shops across the country.
Despite the name ‘Chinese‘ salt and pepper chips, this recipe is pretty much a British dish with a Chinese inspired twist (in the form of flavourings such as Chinese five spice, ginger and garlic).
Chinese takeaways grew very popular in the 1880s and these chilli chips with salt and Chinese flavourings were invented to satisfy the British palate.
Recipe Ingredients
To make homemade Chinese style salt and pepper chips, you’ll need the following ingredients below:
- Chips: I used straight cut oven chips in this recipe. Any type of chips are fine to use, a few examples are fried oven chips and fresh chips from potatoes .
- Vegetables: The vegetables used in this dish are onions, red and green chillies, garlic, red bell peppers and spring onions.
- Chinese Salt And Pepper Seasonings: This seasoning spice mix is what creates great tasting chips. It’s not just made up of salt and pepper, there’s a lot more to it. See how to make the spice mix below.
Chinese Salt And Pepper Seasoning
To make the spice mix, you’re going to need salt, white pepper and Chinese five spice, these are the 3 main ingredients.
You can either add the seasonings to a bowl and mix it together for a ready-made mixture or add the seasonings one-by-one to the dish.
Some recipes like my Chinese salt and pepper seasoning add optional chilli flakes and spices like garlic powder, but these additions are optional.
What Are The 5 Spices In Chinese Five Spice?
It’s surprisingly easy to make your own Chinese five spice from scratch, all you need are the 5 ingredients below:
- Star Anise
- Fennel Seeds
- Szechuan Peppercorns
- Whole Cloves
- Cinnamon
It’s the perfect combination of spices used in Chinese cuisine that can be added to dishes like this to provide extra flavour. These spices are quite strong, so a little really does go a long way! It’s very easy for this spice mix to overpower a dish.
Check out this post for the recipe and a list of the best Chinese 5 spice substitutes too!
How To Make Salt And Pepper Chips
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make Chinese salt and pepper chips. Full recipe instructions are on the recipe card:
Step One:
Pour oven chips into a roasting tray and drizzle a tablespoon of oil over the chips. With your hands, toss the chips around until the oil evenly coats the chips.
Place the chips in the oven to cook at 180°C (gas mark 4, 350°F) for 20 to 25 minutes or according to packet instructions.
Whilst the chips are cooking in the oven, use a sharp knife, to chop the spring onions, chillies, garlic, bell pepper and peel and chop the onion.
Step Two:
With a wok or frying pan add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and stir-fry the onions, garlic, bell peppers and chillies over a medium to high heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until the garlic and onions have softened.
Step Three: