Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (2024)

Published on by Helen Best-Shaw 32 Comments
Last Updated on

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

Chinese salt and pepper chips (or salt and chilli chips) is a takeaway comfort food favourite. Make them at home in minutes for the freshest, healthiest version you will find.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (1)

Jump To

Chips with Everything

Chinese salt and pepper chips is one of those wonderful fusion dishes that would probably look completely baffling in China. (I suppose it would be British salt and pepper chips there.)

Never mind the fact that London’s first China Town grew up in the 1880s. When restaurants serving Chinese food started to grow in popularity after World War II, they had to adapt their food for conservative local palates. That often meant serving chips to those least willing to experiment.

Over the years, of course, we have all become a bit more adventurous. That’s how this dish of good old British chips with a Chinese twist came into being. Salt and pepper chips are sold up and down the country in Chinese takeaways. As always, though, we like to make our own.

Why Make Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips?

These Chinese salt and pepper chips are great fun and make the perfect dirty fakeaway. Full of flavour, this is the ideal comfort food for when you want to relax at home after a hard day at work.

You could, of course, call out for takeaway but why would you? It’s so much better and cheaper to make your own. Your chips will be hotter, fresher and crisper, and it only takes five minutes hands-on time when you use frozen oven chips. It couldn’t be easier.

Why you will love this recipe

  • It is so tasty – perfect comfort food.
  • Far cheaper than ordering in, and fresher, with crispier chips.
  • No additives or artificial ingredients.
  • Adjust the spicing to suit your own taste.

How to Make Salt and Pepper Chips

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (2)

Step One – Grab the ingredients. You need oven chips, a small onion, green and red chillies, Chinese five spice powder, sea salt and a spring onion.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (3)

Step Two – Turn the oven on and put your usual sized portion of chips in to cook. I get crisper chips by cooking oven chips on a mesh tray.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (4)

Step Three – Peel the onion and chop. Chop up the chillies, discarding the seeds and membranes to remove some of the heat.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (5)

Step FourFry the onion and chillies for a few minutes, until the onions are translucent.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (6)

Step FiveAdd the five spice powder and sea salt flakes. Cook for another minute. Remove from the heat until the chips have cooked.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (7)

Step SixOnce the chips are ready, reheat the onion, chilli and spice mixture. Then add the chips and chopped spring onions to the pan. Give a quick stir to coat the chips with the spice mix.

Serve your Chinese salt and pepper chips immediately, while they are still hot and crisp.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (8)

Salt and Chilli Chips Hints, Tips and Variations

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (9)

  • To save time next time, dice any extra chillies and onion. Freeze them in an airtight box and then fry from frozen.
  • Remove the seeds and membranes to take some heat out of the chillies.
  • Use salt flakes rather than ground salt – you want the texture and extra crunch.
  • You want proper chip-shop fat chips for these – not skinny fries
  • For crisper chips try baking on a mesh tray. These only cost a couple of pounds, last for years and go through the dishwasher without any trouble. They really make a difference to the result.
  • Not all brands of five spice blend are the same – read the label as many of them are packed with sugar. Shop around until you find one you like, because the flavours vary dramatically.
  • These Chinese salt and pepper chips are best served fresh. You can reheat them on a baking tray, but please don’t, as the results are disappointing.
  • Serve these with hot sauce for an extra kick: – chilli sauce, curry sauce, peri peri sauce.

These are perfect followed by a lemon posset which contrasts nicely with the spice!

More delicious recipes using fries

  • Masala chips
  • Dirty Fries
  • Garlic Chips
  • Cheesy Chips

You will love some more British takeaway classics

  • Pilau Rice
  • Nandos Spicy Rice
  • Indian Recipes

Tried this recipe?If you try this recipe please tag #FussFreeFlavours on Instagram or X (Twitter). It is amazing for me when you make one of my recipes and I really do love to see them. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thanks for reading Fuss Free Flavours!

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (10)

Print Recipe

Bookmark

4.93 from 26 votes

Chinese Salt & Pepper Chips

Chinese salt and pepper chips (or salt and chilli chips) are a British takeaway comfort food favourite. Make them at home in minutes for the freshest, healthiest version you will find.

Servings: 2 people

Author: Helen Best-Shaw

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 225 g oven chips
  • 1 tsp vegetable oil
  • 1 red chilli
  • 1 green chilli
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 tsp Chinese five spice blend
  • 1 tsp sea salt flakes
  • 1 spring onion (scallion)

Instructions

  • Heat oven to the directions on the oven chips packet.

  • Place chips onto a baking or mesh tray and cook according to packet instructions.

  • Peel and chop finely chop the onion. Chop the chillis, discarding the membranes and seeds.

  • While the chips are cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan on a medium heat.

  • Fry the onion and chillis for a few minutes until the onion is starting to turn translucent.

  • Add the five spice and salt. Stir well, and allow to cook for a further minute. Remove from the heat and let stand.

  • When the chips are cooked, reheat the onion and spice mixture for a couple of minutes. Then add the cooked chips and spring onion. Stir together to coat the chips in the spice mixture.

  • Serve immediately.

Notes

  • To save time next time, dice any extra chillies and onion. Freeze them in an airtight box and then fry from frozen.
  • Remove the seeds and membranes to take some heat out of the chillies.
  • Use salt flakes rather than ground salt – you want the texture and extra crunch.
  • You want proper chip-shop fat chips for these – not skinny fries
  • For crisper chips try baking on a mesh tray. These only cost a couple of pounds, last for years and go through the dishwasher without any trouble. They really make a difference to the result.
  • Not all brands of five spice blend are the same – read the label as many of them are packed with sugar. Shop around until you find one you like, because the flavours vary dramatically.
  • These Chinese salt and pepper chips are best served fresh. You can reheat them on a baking tray, but please don't, as the results are disappointing.

Nutritional Information

  • This recipe is worth 16 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion

• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.

Nutrition Facts

Chinese Salt & Pepper Chips

Amount Per Serving

Calories 354Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Sodium 1794mg78%

Potassium 665mg19%

Carbohydrates 43g14%

Fiber 7g29%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 274IU5%

Vitamin C 47mg57%

Calcium 44mg4%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Chinese, Fakeaway

Video

Delicious Recipes Emailed To You!Get easy, tasty recipes for FREE when you subscribe! Click to Subscribe Now!!

We love ‘fakeaways’, ditching the costly carry out for fresher homemade versions where we know exactly what we are eating. If you feel the same, why not try my easy Chinese chicken curry or this chow mein recipe, which can be made with chicken, tofu or other meats?

Related Posts

  • Easy Chinese Chicken Chow Mein Fakeaway Recipe

  • Easy pepper salad with capers

  • Easy Chinese Chicken Curry

  • Easy Sticky Asian Chicken Wings

Chinese Salt and Pepper Chips Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese salt and pepper made of? ›

Each establishment will have their own variations and ratios, but predominately this seasoning blend is made from salt, pepper, chilli flakes, Chinese 5 spice, garlic powder, ground ginger and sugar. This creates a mix of sweet and savoury along with a nice injection of heat.

What do Chinese takeaways cook their chips in? ›

Rather than thinly sliced chips they use thick-cut potato chips. It's typically tossed in a wok with seasoning like salt, pepper, five spice powder and MSG, as well as other aromatics like green onions, peppers and thinly sliced chilli.

What is the ratio of salt and pepper mix? ›

Mix 1 part pepper with 12 parts kosher salt or 8 parts fine or flake sea salt. Store in a metal spice can or glass jar away from the light. Transfer a small amount to a ramekin or small bowl and keep on the countertop for seasoning, using your fingers to measure.

What is Chinese 5 spice made of? ›

Five spice is a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds. If you don't have Sichuan peppercorns to hand, you could substitute them for black peppercorns – the flavour will still be nice, although it won't have the same heat.

What are the ingredients in Lays salt and pepper chips? ›

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower, Corn, and/or Canola Oil), Salt & Pepper Seasoning (Maltodextrin [Made From Corn], Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, and Natural Flavors).

Can you buy Chinese salt and pepper seasoning? ›

Shipping calculated at checkout. Take the Chinese favourite to your home, anytime any day, any way. Packed with garlic, chilli, 5 spice, szechwan pepper and quality British Sea Salt this tastes much better than your average takeaway.

How to make Chinese salt at home? ›

Method
  1. Place the salt and Sichuan pepper in a wok on medium and stir constantly. Remove from heat when the salt begins to change colour and the scent of the pepper begins to rise (2-4 minutes).
  2. Keep fresh in a sealed jar.

What ingredient is in Chinese salt? ›

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is also known as Chinese Salt. MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occuring non-essential amino acids. It mixes well with meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, sauces, soups and marinades and is a particularly popular ingredient in far eas Asian food.

What are those Chinese chips called? ›

Shrimp Chips (Or Prawn Crackers) Ms Shi and Mr He. Shrimp chips, also known as prawn crackers, are made from a mixture of shrimp meat, tapioca starch, and seasonings. The mixture is usually formed into a dough log, then cut into thin slices, which are then dried.

What is the most popular chips in China? ›

According to the Statista Global Consumer Survey conducted in China in December 2021, Lay's was the most popular chips brand among the respondents, with 72 percent purchasing products from them in the past three months. In addition, Three Squirrels and Oishi were also popular among Chinese consumers.

What is the crunchy stuff in Chinese food? ›

What are those crunchy things in your stir-fry? They're water chestnuts, and they're surprisingly good for you! You probably already know a few things about water chestnuts. They're white and crunchy, and you'll find them in a ton of Asian-style stir fry dishes.

What is the mixture of salt and pepper? ›

when salt is mixed with pepper, they are not mixed uniformly. You'll be able to see white specks of salt and black specks of pepper, making them a heterogeneous mixture.

Can you buy salt and pepper mix? ›

This KMC Salt & Pepper Seasoning is a highly versatile product can be used in most food to add an extra special flavour. If you love Chinese Salt & Pepper dishes you will love this seasoning.

What is salt and pepper made of? ›

Salts come in two basic categories: sea salt and mined salt. All salt originates from sea water. All pepper comes from the same peppercorn, with black, white and green the most common types.

Is salt and pepper chips a northern thing? ›

History. The dish was invented by Chinese immigrant-owned fish and chip shops in Liverpool, and is a fusion of Chinese and British cuisine. It began to be served during the 1960s. It is primarily eaten in Northern England and Scotland, where it has become a fixture of Chinese takeaway restaurants.

Are salt chips unhealthy? ›

Chips are not very nutritious, and they're considered processed food. Harvard Health Publishing recommends choosing healthier snacks instead of processed foods like chips. Healthy snacks are not only more nutritious ⁠— they're more filling than processed snacks.

What is chip salt made of? ›

Seasoned salt is a blend of table salt, herbs, spices, other flavourings, and sometimes monosodium glutamate (MSG). It is sold in supermarkets and is commonly used in fish and chip shops and other take-away food shops.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 6815

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.