Shallot Oil Food

SHALLOT OIL

Steps:

• Heat oil in wok over medium heat until hot, then fry shallots over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until golden-brown, 8 to 12 minutes.
• Carefully strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl.
• Once cool enough to handle, pour shallot oil into an airtight container and spread fried shallots on paper towels. (Shallots will crisp as they cool.).
• Bonus: Save the crispy, fried shallots as a tasty topping to sprinkle over stir fries or other dishes!

FRIED SHALLOTS AND SHALLOT OIL

Steps:

• Heat oil in a wide, heavy skillet over medium-high heat, and line a plate with paper towels.
• Test oil by tossing in a slice of shallot. When it sizzles, gently add remaining shallots and lower heat to medium. Shallots should bubble gently, not furiously. Stir often. After 5 minutes, if shallots have started to brown, reduce heat. They should slowly turn from translucent to golden to brown; the process should take about 15 minutes.
• Transfer cooked shallots to lined plate with slotted spoon or tongs, shaking off excess oil. Blot with paper towel and let cool at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, until crisp.
• Store shallots in an airtight container and use as a crunchy garnish or in salads. Strain oil to remove debris and store in a cool place in an airtight container; can be used for stir-frying or any another purpose.

FRIED SHALLOT OIL (NAAM MAN HOM DAENG)

Steps:

• Set a fine-mesh strainer over a heat proof bowl. Set aside. Pour oil into a shallow pan a half-inch high. Set pan over high heat until oil is lightly bubbling, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, slice the shallots by peeling, slicing in half, then thinly slicing with the grain into a julienne. When the oil is bubbling, turn heat to low and add the shallots and stir. Don't be tempted to rush the process with high heat: cook, stirring and scraping the sides occasionally and adjusting the heat to maintain a gentle sizzle, 5-10 minutes.
• When the oil stops bubbling and the shallots are starting to brown but still look raw, turn off heat. The residual heat will continue cooking the shallots. Continue stirring and flipping the shallots until they are a deep golden brown and crispy, another 1-2 minutes. Pour shallot oil through the strainer, reserving the flavorful oil. Gently shake the strainer to remove as much oil as possible, then transfer the shallots to paper towels to drain and cool in an even layer. As they cool down, they'll crisp up. Note: Fried shallots can be stored a container, uncovered, at room temperature up to 2 days. Alternatively, store with a silica gel packet (available on Amazon) in an airtight container; shallots will stay fresh several weeks. Shallot oil can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature indefinitely. Makes about ¼ cup fried shallots and ½ cup shallot oil.