Salt & Pepper Chips (UK Takeaway Classic)

The story

Every British Chinese takeaway has a version of salt and pepper chips, and everybody has a favorite. The formula is brutally simple: crisp fries hit a pan of raw-punchy garlic, chili and onion with Chinese five-spice. Served in foil, eaten on the walk home. This is the home edition.

Ingredients (6 + pantry staples)

• Frozen fries or chips — 1 lb / 450 g
• Garlic — 4 cloves, minced
• Red chili (or chili flakes) — 1
• Onion — 1/2, finely diced
• Chinese five-spice powder — 1 tsp
• Scallions — 2, sliced

Pantry staples used (don't count toward the 6): salt, sugar (pinch), oil for the pan. Not stocked yet? See the pantry page.

Steps

1. Cook the fries by package directions (oven or air fryer) until properly crisp — soft chips collapse in the pan.
2. In the last 5 minutes, fry onion, garlic and chili in 1.5 tbsp oil with the five-spice over medium heat until the onion softens.
3. Tip the hot fries into the pan, add a good pinch of salt and the sugar, toss to coat. Scallions on top. Eat immediately.

Swaps

Add strips of fried beef or chicken to the pan and it becomes salt & pepper anything. Sweet potato fries work.