How to Make Chili Flower Garnishes

By on April 15, 2009 in Blog

I don’t have the dexterity of a Thai watermelon carver, but every once in a while I like to add a decorative touch to everyday foods. Remember the chili flowers from my Sichuan-style chicken noodle soup? A couple of readers wrote in to ask how to make them, so here is my belated post. All you need to start are fresh chilis and a pair of clean, pointy kitchen shears. And maybe some gloves if you plan on touching your eyes within the next few hours.

1. Snip off the tip of the chili. Snip the chili in half length-wise, almost to the stem. With the shears, carefully scrape out as many seeds as possible.

2. Carefully cut each half again, into 2 or 3 strips of equal width.

3. Soak the finished flowers in a bowl of cold water for 15 to 20 minutes. The helps the “petals” to “fan out”. Just dry off, and you’re done! At this point, you can either dry them off to use immediately (it helps to have a finished dish to decorate), or store in the fridge in cold water for up to a day. Recommended for noodle soups, stir-fries, and anything spicy you can think of.

12 Responses to How to Make Chili Flower Garnishes

  1. Littlebearskitchen April 15, 2009 at 1:26 pm #

    Wow, thanks for the great photo-tutorial! The chili flowers look so elegant. I would have never guessed that they are so easy to make. I will definitely give this one a try next time I want to spruce up a dish.

  2. Anonymous April 15, 2009 at 6:21 pm #

    Instead of water soak them in rice wine vinegar with some shredded carrots for some tasty carrot pickles and spicy vinegar sauce.

  3. Eat. Travel. Eat! April 16, 2009 at 2:32 am #

    These look beautiful and elegant and fit for a magazine :). It is amazing that they are so easy to fan out and to make. I never would have thought water could help make the chili “petals” fan out.

  4. Jan April 16, 2009 at 10:26 am #

    I didn’t realise they are so easy to make. They look so pretty! Thanks for sharing.

  5. Asianmommy April 16, 2009 at 12:19 pm #

    How cute! I’m going to have to try this.

  6. dianakuan April 18, 2009 at 4:20 am #

    Eat Travel Eat – I think it’s more of the temperature of the liquid than H2O itself. :)

  7. Liz April 20, 2009 at 6:42 pm #

    Love these flowers. They are going to find themselves in some icy gin tonight.

  8. dianakuan April 20, 2009 at 10:47 pm #

    Liz – I didn’t even think of using them as cocktail garnishes. Nice! I’m thinking dirty martini…

  9. Anonymous April 27, 2009 at 9:24 pm #

    Wow lol
    looks good just wouldnt eat it hahah

  10. mina June 18, 2009 at 5:16 pm #

    lovely! it must be done within the next few days. (:

  11. Anonymous July 17, 2010 at 8:44 am #

    This looks nice

  12. Susan February 1, 2013 at 5:33 pm #

    I am a culinary student and have been looking for ways to garnish my plates in class. Can’t wait to try this out!!

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