Chilli Round The Clock

Chilli peppers have shaped the cuisines and taste palate of China, Korea and Southeast Asia since their introduction to these regions via ancient trade routes. Combined with local ingredients and cooking methods, every cuisine has evolved and developed its own range of nuanced spicy flavours, with a plethora of chilli-infused dishes for every meal of the day, offering different zesty effects to suit each moment.

So, here’s our handpicked selection of chilli dishes from across Asia for you to enjoy, from morning till late night!

Breakfast

Nasi Lemak

Celebrated by food critics around the world, Nasi Lemak is the quintessential Malaysian breakfast that packs nutrition and flavour in one easy dish. The rice is imbued with the combined aromas of sweet pandan, refreshing lemongrass, ginger warmth, and nutty shallots, as well as a creamy coconut milk. Paired with hard-boiled egg, crispy fried anchovies, crunchy fried peanuts, cucumber, and the spicy star of the dish, the Sambal chilli paste.

Made with a blend of chilli, garlic, onion, tamarind paste, salt, sugar and savoury anchovies, and simmered to a thick, velvety texture, the sambal delivers a spicy, savoury, and tangy oomph that complements all the dishes’ components mentioned above. Mixed together for a bold, satisfying zest meant to energise your senses, and get you ready for the day ahead! 

Malaysian Chilli Pan Mee

One-bowl noodle dishes are a favourite Malaysian breakfast as well, and the Chilli Pan Mee is among the exciting specialities made popular by the Malaysian Chinese community. Flat wheat-flour noodles topped with savoury anchovies, umami-rich pork mince, earthy shiitake mushrooms, silky poached egg, refreshing spinach, and a generous sprinkle of fried prawn chilli oil. All tossed and mixed together for a bold spicy punch that tapers smoothly with a lingering warmth, and reveals the layers of savoury flavours. A sumptuous breakfast treat that revives your senses and sates your morning appetite.

Dry Mee Siam

Another popular Malaysian breakfast noodle favourite is the Dry Mee Siam. A traditional stir-fried vermicelli noodle dish with omelette strips, juicy prawns, soft tofu puffs and fragrant chives, finished with a dash of Kumquat juice. The Mee Siam’s spicy, savoury flavour is imbued directly into the rice vermicelli during the stir-fry with a blend of dried shrimp chilli paste and salted soybean paste, while the Kumquat juice adds a fruity, sweet-tangy lift; resulting in a delicious and piquant taste that perks you up with every mouthful. Great to pair with your morning tea or coffee!   

Lunch & Dinner

Hunan Stir-fried Pork with Chillies

Chinese Hunan cuisine is defined by the Gan La or Pure Spicy flavour, achieved through the mastery of chilli heat to stir your appetite, excite your tastebuds and warm your body. The classic Hunan stir-fried pork embodies the cuisine’s zesty features, with dry-fried green chillies at its heart, giving the dish a bold spiciness with a mild smoky aroma. Paired with savoury, nutty fermented black beans, garlic, light soy sauce, oyster sauce and Shaoxing wine, creating rich layers of umami flavour. The chilli’s warming zest lingers and complements the umami flavours. A fiery and satisfying choice to invigorate your senses at lunch or dinner after a long day.     

Spicy Thai Seafood Stir-Fry

Also perfect for an exciting and warming lunch or dinner is the sumptuous Pad Cha Talay. A Thai-style stir-fry that packs a generous combo of prawns and squid with wholesome vegetables, as well as an intense spicy heat in its garlic-chilli paste, tempered with a blend of rich, savoury sauces. Enjoyed with rice, the dish’s fiery kick and savoury warmth is like a heaty balm that uplifts your soul and satiates your tastebuds. Whip up the Spicy Thai Seafood Stir-Fry for your lunch or dinner!

Late Night Supper

Hot and Spicy Rice Cake

The hot and spicy Tteokbokki rice cake is a staple street food of Korean night markets. Just its spicy aroma will make you salivate, and the warming, sweet-savoury zest of its soft and chewy rice cakes is made to excite and comfort. Served with hard-boiled egg, savoury Korean fish cakes, and garnished with herbaceous spring onions, every bite brings a delicious mix of textures and flavours.

Gochujang chilli bean paste and Gochugaru chilli powder are the key spicy ingredients, a traditional Korean seasoning duo that blends chilli heat with sweet, savoury notes. Mixed with corn syrup and soy sauce to complete the dish’s tantalising flavour. A cosy after-party treat or late-night quick meal to warm up and unwind with.

Pad Thai

Thailand’s national dish Pad Thai embodies the harmonious interplay of spicy, savoury, sweet and sour flavours of Thai cuisine. Springy flat rice noodles stir-fried with chicken, prawns, bean sprouts, julienned carrot, onions and toasted peanuts. Seasoned with tangy tamarind paste, savoury fish sauce and caramel-like palm sugar, and finished with a sprinkle of spicy chilli flakes. Although Pad Thai is enjoyed throughout the day, the dish makes a flavourful late-night supper to sate your appetite and ease your mood, with the chilli flakes’ delicate spicy touch to uplift the layered flavours.

More Chilli Delights

Add a zesty chilli kick to your cooking for exciting, spicy and warming flavours! Come discover the difference between fresh chilli and dried chilli, and uplift your dishes with the magical tastes of Asia’s favourite chilli oils!