Some people go through hairstyle phases or Spotify-playlist phases or favorite-shoe phases. I go through sauce phases.
Which means, depending on the week, you’ll find me putting horseradish yogurt or Sriracha mayo or kale-cashew pesto or caper-raisin vinaigrette (hey hey, Six Seasons) on absolutely everything.
But for the past several months, I’ve been in a committed relationship with one sauce and— gasp—it isn’t even homemade: Lao Gan Ma’s Spicy Chili Crisp (or, as we’ll call it from here on forth, LGM’s SCC).
While this started to be produced in China in 1997, it’s only recently become an It condiment in the United States. Last year alone, Taste wrote about how “the cult of spicy chili crisp is real” (it is), NY Mag’s Mia Leimkuhler said “I panic if I don’t have at least five jars of this spicy chili crisp” (same), and Serious Eats published a copycat DIY recipe (imitation is the ultimate compliment).
What makes it so special? LGM’s SCC is spicy, savory, and salty. But, most importantly, as the name indicates, it is crispy. While other condiments can easily check off those other boxes, it is in my experience the crunchy-crumbly texture that makes Chili Crisp so singularly addictive.
Oh, and the MSG—aka, monosodium glutamate. If you’re about to raise your eyebrows at this massively misunderstood ingredient, please read this first. The short story is: MSG is a jolt of umami, and umami makes food taste better, which means LGM’s SCC makes food taste better.
Like, all foods. If there’s something this condiment doesn’t play nicely with, I have yet to find it—and I’ve been looking. Here’s a totally incomplete, in-the-works list of all the things LGM’s SCC improves:
- Saucy noodles
- Cheesy pasta
- Buttered rice
- Pan-seared steak
- Roast chicken
- Blanched tofu
- Vegetables (cooked any which way)
- Brothy-chunky soup
- Smacked cucumber salad
- Lime-spritzed fruit
- Ice cream (yes, ice cream)
And here are just a few of the many recipes on the site that would be even happier with a dollop of the good stuff on top:
Written by: Emma Laperruque
Popular on Food52
42 Comments
I've had other Lao Gan Ma chili sauces but when I tried Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp I was hooked! I put the sauce on virtually everything I eat!
I first purchased this at Dean and Deluca, then found it at Whole Foods via Amazon Prime Now. It's a lot pricier (about $12.99 vs. $2.69 for Lao Gan Ma) but it doesn't have MSG if MSG bothers you. The ingredients are Canola Oil, Garlic, Onion, Chiles, Spices, and Salt. It's not as smoky as Lao Gan Ma but it is a delicious alternative.
It is better and more interesting than I thought it would be, hot but not unpleasantly so, a nice tooth and pleasant undercurrent of saltiness. I might not be putting it on ice cream any time soon but I will definitely be trotting it out fir variety of things. I am eager to dress up some avocado toast with it.
Our go-to is on a mild cheese or Brie on a cheese platter.
https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Silicone-Storage-Airtight-Veggie/dp/B07PQ4R3ZK
Thanks.
Join The Conversation