Turn Hard-Boiled Eggs Into An Umami Bomb With This Bold Topping

Hard-boiled eggs make a great snack due to the protein they provide and the convenience of making them. No need to pull out a dozen ingredients or fire up an oven — though you might use your slow cooker to cook up a bunch of eggs at once. Despite their tastiness, the standard salt and pepper seasonings can get boring after a while. When you're ready to switch things up, try drizzling crispy garlic chili oil on your hard-boiled eggs for a spicy umami flavor bomb.

Chili oil is a popular condiment in Chinese cuisine, and it consists of chili pepper flakes soaked in a neutral oil like vegetable oil. Other ingredients are sometimes added to make the flavor profile more complex, such as garlic, aromatic spices like cinnamon and anise, or salt. For hard-boiled eggs, garlic chili oil takes the flavor up a notch thanks to the garlic's own unique, pungent flavor, which complements the pepper flakes' heat. Many versions of crispy chili oil on the market include garlic, but if the one in your fridge doesn't, mix it with a bit of minced garlic before spreading it on your hard-boiled eggs. While eggs topped with this spicy condiment are delicious on their own, other ingredients can help take them to the next level.

If you eat your boiled eggs alone, spoon the chili oil on top of the whole eggs, or slice them in half and drizzle it over the yolks. Get creative with your toppings and incorporate other ingredients traditionally used in East Asian cooking, like sesame seeds, soy sauce, or scallions. Lemon or lime juice adds a touch of brightness to the oil's bold flavor. Though delicious alone, chili-oil-topped eggs also elevate numerous dishes, including ramen, salads, and vegetable bowls. Combine them with red onions and jalapeños for an easy snack with a spicy kick, or top a Cobb salad with them.

Adding chili oil to jammy soy-marinated boiled eggs is an excellent way to boost the umami flavor for those who can't get enough. The condiment also brings a nice heat to hard-boiled egg fried rice, a remix of the scrambled egg version. No matter how you eat your boiled eggs, garlic chili oil is an exciting food hack that adds a satisfying crunch and a big hit of flavor.