CRUNCHY TOPPERS · NON-GMO

Mekhala Non-GMO Sichuan Hot Pepper Crispy Onions

★★★★☆ 4.2 / 5
Non-GMO VerifiedPlant-BasedGluten-FreeNo Palm OilNo Added SugarNo Artificial Additives

🧅 Sprinkle on everything — salads, noodles, burgers, fries, rice, soups, eggs. Delicious on everything.

Our tingly Sichuan Hot Pepper Crispy Onions are made from Non-GMO ingredients and cooked in rice bran oil. Crisp onions and garlic, tossed with mellow ground Sichuan peppercornsa delicious alternative to Chilli Crisps, and less oily too!

Spice Level 2 / 3

Medium heat · Tingly Sichuan numbing · Earthy, warmly spiced · Distinct from sharp chilli burn · Complex & aromatic

$8.99

2.5oz / 71g · Resealable bag · 10 servings (1 Tbsp / 7g per serving) Also available as a 3-pack on Amazon.com

Free from: Fish sauce · Shrimp paste · Gluten · MSG · Artificial additives · Added sugar · Dairy · Eggs

🔒 Re-seal for maximum crispiness. Store in a cool dry place. Best consumed within 30 days after opening.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT

The alternative to chilli crisps — crunchier, less oily, more complex

Sichuan Hot Pepper sits in a fascinating middle ground: bold enough for heat lovers who want more than Umami Seaweed, but more complex and less sharp than Thai Chilli Lime. The defining ingredient is Sichuan peppercorn, which delivers the distinctive “ma” (numbing-tingly) sensation that is the hallmark of Sichuan cuisine — a gentle electric tingle rather than a burning heat. Star anise and cinnamon contribute a warmly spiced, aromatic depth that makes this the most complex-tasting of the three flavors.

 

A delicious alternative to Chilli Crisps — and less oily too! Chilli crisps have become a pantry staple for many households, but they are soaked in large quantities of oil and many contain flavor enhancers. Mekhala’s Sichuan Hot Pepper version delivers a similar satisfaction — crispy, savory, gently numbing — but cooked in rice bran oil, with no palm oil and no artificial additives.

 

Sustainably made from wholesome and non-GMO Asian ingredients from local farms in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Supporting women and youths with every bag produced.

THREE WAYS TO USE

Snack. Top. Season.

1 tablespoon is all it takes. Whether you’re finishing a dish, building crunch into a salad, or snacking between meals — these crispy onions do the job instantly.
🥄

As a Topper

Sprinkle over salads, grain bowls, soups, ramen, pho, and noodle dishes just before serving. Adds crunch, savoriness, and visual appeal in one tablespoon. Don’t stir in — let it sit on top for maximum texture.

🍚

As a Seasoning

Toss into fried rice or stir-fries as a finishing seasoning, replacing or complementing soy sauce. Scatter over scrambled eggs, avocado toast, or roasted vegetables for an instant umami hit.

🍟

As a Garnish

Use like breadcrumbs on top of burgers, sandwiches, fries, baked dishes, or dips. Adds a distinctly Asian-inspired crunch that transforms everyday comfort food into something more interesting.

🤏

As a Snack

Eat straight from the bag. The combination of crispy shallot crunch, umami soy, and seaweed makes these unexpectedly satisfying as a standalone snack. Many customers start as toppers and end up addicted.

Serving tip: At 1 Tbsp per serving, the bag gives 10 uses. For big salads or bowls, 1–2 tablespoons is ideal. Storage: Re-seal after opening and store in a cool, dry place — not in the refrigerator. Moisture softens the crunch. Best consumed within 30 days after opening. The resealable bag is designed to preserve freshness between uses.

Ingredients & Nutrition

WHAT’s INSIDE

Non-GMO ingredients. Cooked in rice bran oil — not palm oil. Organic gluten-free soy seasoning. No artificial additives of any kind.
  • Shallot
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Garlic
  • Gluten-Free Soy Sauce Powder ✓ Organic
    (Organic Soy Sauce (Water, Organic Soybean, Organic Jasmine Rice, Sea Salt), Organic Maltodextrin)
  • Dried Red Chilli
  • Himalayan Pink Salt
  • Sichuan Peppercorn
  • Star Anise
  • Cinnamon
✓ No gluten. ✓ No palm oil. ✓ No added sugar. ✓ No dairy. ✓ No eggs. ✓ No artificial preservatives. ✓ No artificial flavors or colors. ✓ Non-GMO Project Verified. Contains Soy (organic gluten-free soy sauce powder).

Please verify the current label for the most accurate and up-to-date ingredient information.

NUTRITION FACTS

Nutrition Facts

10 servings per container
Serving size: 1 Tbsp (7g)

Calories60
Total Fat5g  6% DV
Saturated Fat0g  0% DV
Trans Fat0g
Cholesterol0mg  0% DV
Sodium100mg  4% DV
Total Carbohydrate3g  1% DV
Dietary Fiber0g  0% DV
Total Sugars1g
Includes 0g Added Sugars0% DV
Protein0g  0% DV
Vitamin D0mcg  0% DV
Calcium0mg  0% DV
Iron0mg  0% DV
Potassium0mg  0% DV

VERSATILITY

Delicious on everything

One tablespoon is all it takes to turn something ordinary into something you actually want to eat. Here are the eight best uses — from the packaging and from how customers actually use them.
🥗

Salads

The number-one use. Replaces croutons with Asian crunch. Works on everything from mixed greens to Caesar to grain salads. Stays crispy even with thick, creamy dressings.

🍜

Noodles & Ramen

Scatter generously over ramen, pho, pad thai, or instant noodles. Adds crunch, umami, and the visual texture that makes a bowl look restaurant-quality.

🍔

Burgers

Layer inside the bun or scatter over the patty. Adds Asian-inspired flavor and crunch without changing what makes a great burger great.

🍟

Fries

Toss over fries hot from the oven or air fryer. The seaweed-soy seasoning acts like a Japanese-inspired salt replacement ? addictive and completely different.

🍚

Rice & Grain Bowls

Use as a furikake substitute on plain rice, congee, fried rice, or grain bowls. Adds flavor and texture in one move ? no extra sauces needed.

🥚

Eggs

Scatter over scrambled eggs, fried eggs, omelettes, or soft-boiled eggs. The umami note amplifies egg flavour. A weekday breakfast upgrade in five seconds.

🥣

Soups

Add at the table, not the pot ? stir into broth-based soups just before eating for crunch and flavor. Works beautifully on miso soup, congee, and clear broths.

🤏

Straight from the Bag

Don't underestimate it as a snack. Crispy shallot, seaweed, and organic soy is surprisingly satisfying and far cleaner than most snack alternatives.

COMPLETE YOUR DISH

Build the perfect dish

Sichuan Hot Pepper Crispy Onions work best as a finishing layer on dishes with a base of protein, carbs, or greens. Here’s what they pair with best:
🍚 Fried rice 🍜 Dan dan noodles 🥟 Dumplings & potstickers 🥔 Roasted potatoes 🥗 Grain bowls 🥛 Mapo tofu 🥦 Stir-fried vegetables 🍳 Eggs any style 🥣 Congee 🍔 Burgers 🌶️ Mekhala Red Curry dishes 🫓 Bao buns

EXPLORE THE RANGE

Find your Mekhala Crispy Onion

All three flavors start with the same golden-fried shallot base. The difference is in the seasoning — and the heat.
Feature 🌊 Umami Seaweed 🌶🍋 Thai Chili Lime 🌶 Sichuan Hot Pepper
Heat Level 🌿 Not Spicy 🌶 Hot 🌶 Medium Heat
Flavor Profile Savory, oceanic, umami-rich Tangy, bright, citrusy with chilli Earthy, numbing, deeply spiced
Key Seasoning Organic soy sauce powder & crisp seaweed Thai chilli & lime juice Sichuan peppercorn
Ideal For Families, everyday meals, all palates Spice fans, Thai food lovers Sichuan flavor enthusiasts
Best Dishes Salads, rice, eggs, soups, snacking Salads, tacos, noodles, avocado Fried rice, dumplings, roasted veg
Kid-Friendly ✓ Yes — not spicy Not recommended With caution (medium heat)
Non-GMO Verified ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Gluten-Free ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Contains Soy Gluten-free soy sauce powder Gluten-free soy sauce powder Gluten-free soy sauce powder

All Mekhala Crispy Onions are Non-GMO Project Verified, plant-based, gluten-free, free from palm oil, added sugar, and artificial additives. Available as singles and 3-packs on Amazon.com.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

What people are saying

★★★★☆ 4.2 / 5 Across Crispy Onions range Amazon.com
★★★★★
5 / 5 Thai Chili Lime ✓ Verified Purchase

A game changer for salads

I’m obsessed with this brand! These are easily the best crispy onions I’ve added to salads. The pieces are smaller than most but a little goes a long way. The flavour is very good — robust enough to stand up to other strong salad flavours, and they stayed crispy from the first bite to the last, even with a thick, creamy dressing. Don’t sleep on them!

★★★★☆
4 / 5 Thai Chili Lime ✓ Verified Purchase

Small package, big flavour, gluten-free

I’m always looking for something to throw on top of salads or omelettes for extra crunch. This is extremely tasty and goes with just about everything savoury. Adds big flavour and it doesn’t take much. The bag contains 10 one-tablespoon servings. It doesn’t have anything scary in it, including gluten or preservatives.

★★★★★
5 / 5 Sichuan 3-Pack ✓ Verified Purchase

Sprinkle on anything for an instant flavour boost

It truly makes every meal more exciting. You can taste almost every seasoning — great flavour with no preservative taste. Initially intended to use these only as a salad topping, but found myself snacking on them straight from the bag. Doubled my second order.

★★★★★
5 / 5 Crispy Onions Range ✓ Verified Purchase

Now I’m addicted and cannot do without!

A delicious crunchy kick — had some on my salad today and it was amazing. So glad to finally have a gluten-free crispy onion option that actually tastes good. Clean ingredients, real crunch, real flavour. These have become a permanent pantry staple in our house.

Reviews shown are from across the Mekhala Crispy Onions range. Umami Seaweed is a newer SKU — be the first to leave a review on Amazon.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you want to know

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us — we’d love to help.
What does Sichuan Hot Pepper taste like?
Earthy, warmly spiced, and distinctly tingly — the Sichuan peppercorn delivers its characteristic numbing sensation rather than sharp heat. Star anise and cinnamon add a warm, aromatic depth that makes this the most complex and unusual of the three flavors. This is a delicious alternative to Chilli Crisps, and less oily too.
How spicy is Sichuan Hot Pepper?
The packaging labels it “Medium.” Sichuan peppercorn heat is distinctive — it creates a numbing, tingly sensation (called “ma” in Chinese cooking) rather than the sharp burn of dried chilli. It’s accessible for most adults but may be too intense for children or spice-sensitive eaters. For no heat, try Umami Seaweed; for sharper heat, try Thai Chilli Lime.
What is Sichuan peppercorn?
Sichuan peppercorn is a spice native to Sichuan province in China. It is not actually a pepper but the dried husk of the prickly ash plant. Its unique flavor is distinctly citrusy and floral with a mild numbing “tingle” rather than a burning chilli sensation. It is the defining spice of Sichuan cuisine, used in dishes like mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, and kung pao chicken.
Are Mekhala Crispy Onions gluten-free?
Yes. Mekhala Sichuan Hot Pepper Crispy Onions are certified gluten-free. The soy sauce used is a gluten-free variety made from organic soybean and organic jasmine rice — not wheat-based soy sauce. They are also Non-GMO Project Verified.
Do they contain soy?
Yes. The Sichuan Hot Pepper flavor contains organic gluten-free soy sauce powder (made from organic soybean, organic jasmine rice, sea salt, and water). If you have a soy allergy, please check the current product label before purchasing.
Are they vegan?
Yes. Mekhala Sichuan Hot Pepper Crispy Onions are 100% plant-based. No dairy, no eggs, no fish sauce, and no other animal-derived ingredients.
How do I keep them crispy?
Re-seal the bag tightly after each use and store in a cool, dry place — not the refrigerator (moisture softens the crunch). Best consumed within 30 days after opening.
Where are they made?
Packed by Mekhala Living (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Made from wholesome and organic Asian ingredients sourced from local farms, supporting women and youths in the region.

RETAIL

Find Mekhala near you

Mekhala is available at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, H-E-B, Giant, and select specialty grocery stores across the US. Use the store finder to locate your nearest stockist.

Asian & Women-Founded & Run

Our Philosophy

At Mekhala, we believe in making great products that we want to use for ourselves and our families. And that means doing the very best we can with what is available. 

 

We ask – what is this going to cost? Our health? Our planet? Our viability? 

 

More often than not, it is immensely challenging to find the best balance. Read on here to find out how we’re doing it!