Hong you chaoshou, or 'red oil wontons', is Sichuan street food at its finest. Delicate pork-filled wontons are boiled until they float and turn silky, then bathed in a glossy, deep red chilli oil sauce sharpened with black vinegar, garlic and a whisper of sugar. It's spicy, savoury, a little sour and completely addictive.
What sets this apart from a plain bowl of wontons in broth is that fiery, aromatic sauce — good chilli oil is everything here, so it's worth taking a few extra minutes to make your own using dried chilli flakes and warm spices rather than reaching for a store-bought jar. Once you've got a jar of homemade chilli oil in the fridge, this dish comes together in about 20 minutes.
These make a brilliant starter for a bigger Sichuan feast, or a satisfying light meal on their own with a side of blanched greens.
