Cut onion roughly into quarters removing skin.
Chop spring onion into large equal sized pieces.
Smash your garlic but don’t cut it so it releases it’s flavour.
Use the back of a knife to crush cardamom pods.
In a large pot heat up your oil until you can stick in a wooden/bamboo chopstick and bubbles form.
Add in your dry aromatics (star anise, cardamom pods, bay leaves).
After about 3 minutes add in your fresh aromatics (onion, spring onion, garlic).
Once that’s boiled for about 5 minutes turn off the heat.
Add your chilli flakes to a large heat proof bowl.
Strain out the aromatics into the bowl of chilli flakes.
Mix around until the oil turns a bright red colour.
Once the oil is cooled, spoon into clean glass gars (mason jars work well).
Store in the pantry for up to 3-4 months!