Some of us are fanatical flavour-seekers. We just can’t help searching for ways to indulge our taste receptors. Our pantries are lined with an arsenal of condiments, ready to be deployed to drop flavour bombs onto any finished dish. We’re a bit like that at QuiteLike HQ. No matter how perfectly balanced our recipes are (and, as you know, they are), we just can’t help being a little extra sometimes. Not always, but it doesn’t hurt to be ready with a good condiment. On our frontline is always a chilli-something. Chilli sauce, chilli oil, chilli crisp. This is particularly good if you identify as a heat-seeker, but the rest of the family doesn’t. Chilli can take a really well-rounded dish and push the big, red button on large-format flavour. It could be an addiction, we don’t know, we’re not saying it’s not. But there’s no support group for it and it doesn’t do any harm, so why not just let it be part of your personality?

If you’re looking for a good chilli hit, these products are great for cultivating a new dependency.

Mama Liu's Chilli Oil

Roasted chilli flakes in oily, garlicky goodness, this cult pantry staple is an Australian classic. It dials up the heat to medium, so it’s a good mid-point for chilli addicts. Dip our Turmeric Chicken Skewers into this one.

Bippi's Italian Style Chilli

Italians love their chilli, especially the Sicilians. Made with fresh, Aussie-grown chilli this jar of happiness is just like the one the nonna you never had used to make. It is exceptionally well-suited to our Baked Pasta Alla Norma.

Mama Smoke Chilli Crisp

It’s just as well this chilli crisp comes in a 300ml bag, because you’re likely to develop an early dependency on it. From sandwiches to noodles and pizza, this is your go-to drizzler. We particularly love it on our Fried Eggplant Flatbreads with Yoghurt Tahini Sauce.

Condimental Passionfruit Hot Sauce

If you like your fire to come a little fruity, boy, do we have the condiment for you! This hot sauce is a tangy, fermented hit that is just as at home on dinner as it is in a Bloody Mary or Virgin Mary (which we wholly endorse). Slosh merrily onto our Korean-Style Pork Tacos.

Laoganma Crispy Chilli Oil

Who is the person on the jar? We don’t know, but if they are responsible for this tingling, luscious, peanut-studded elixir, they deserve to be worshipped. Easily found at your local supermarket for a very affordable price, this is a key addition to any pantry. It’s also not blow-your-head-off hot, it just has a subtle tingle making it a good entry-level chilli condiment. Mix it through our Very Green Ginger Fried Rice.

Schichimi Togarashi

A classic Japanese sprinkler, togarishi is hot but it’s also fragrantly spiced with other inclusions such as poppy seeds, sesame seeds and Sichuan pepper. It belongs everywhere and anywhere, but is particularly good on Japanese dishes. Get it on top of our Chicken Karaage with Corn and Lettuce Salad.

Other hot condiments we recommend:

Mabu Mabu Sriracha

Sweet Sting Hot Honey

Lousiana Chipotle Hot Sauce

Rough Rice Mothership Hot Sauce