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Fragrant Tomato Salad with Fried Croutons

This seasonal salad makes a statement, especially when served with homemade chili oil
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

WHAT YOU NEED

    Chili Oil:

    • 3 cups vegetable oil
    • 6 star anise
    • 1 4 to 6 inch cinnamon stick
    • 3 Tbsp. black peppercorns or Sichuan peppercorns
    • 1 small ginger piece, halved
    • 2 Tsp. whole cloves
    • 6 large garlic cloves, crushed
    • 2 large shallots, halved
    • 1 ¼ cups Sichuan chili flakes
    • 2 Tsp. kosher salt
    • ¼ cup cane sugar
    • ½ Tsp. MSG

    Salad:

    • 2 cups ciabatta or sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch pieces
    • 4 to 6 medium tomatoes, quartered
    • 1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds
    • 1 1 large avocado, cubed
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • ½ cup chopped chives

    Instructions

    HOW TO MAKE IT

      Make the Chili Oil:

      • In a large pot, combine vegetable oil, star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger, cloves, garlic, and shallots. Warm over medium heat, bringing it to a gentle simmer. Allow it to cook for 30 to 45 minutes. If the oil's vigor intensifies or the aromatics brown prematurely, lower the heat. Maintain a temperature between 200 and 225 degrees fahrenheit throughout cooking.
      • While the oil infuses, begin to prepare the remaining components. Mix Sichuan chili flakes, salt, sugar, and MSG in a large heat-proof bowl.
      • As the oil takes on color and shallots crisp up, remove it from heat. Position a mesh strainer over the bowl and carefully pour the oil onto the dry ingredients. Discard the aromatics and let the chili oil mixture infuse for at least 10 minutes.

      Make the Salad:

      • Set a large pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of chili oil. When the oil shimmers, add in the chopped bread. Toss to coat the bread with oil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
      • Once the croutons are ready, set them aside. Now, assemble the salad. Arrange the quartered tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and cubed avocado on a large platter. Season with salt and pepper. Top with croutons, drizzle a few spoonfuls of chili oil, and garnish with chives.

      Notes

      The chili crisp will last in your fridge for up to three months, so feel free to pair it with dishes such as eggs, rice, pasta, or proteins.