Crispy shallots are a great garnishing and topping for many Chinese dishes, but the trick is in controlling the fire so that the shallots don't end up burnt and bitter!
Remove the skin from the shallots. Wash and pat dry. Cut it cross-section-wise thinly.
COOKING METHOD FOR CRISPY SHALLOTS RECIPE (15 mins)
In a wok, add 1.5 rice bowls of oil in a wok and turn to high heat.
Add in the shallots and fry, stirring it constantly.
Once they start to turn slightly brown, turn the heat down to low. Continue to fry till light brown, then immediately turn off the heat.
Continue to stir and fry continuously with heat off until the shallots just turn golden.
Pour the oil into a bowl through a metal sieve to separate the fried shallot from the shallot oil. Once cooled, place the fried shallot in an air tight glass jar to keep it crispy.
Notes
TOP TIPS FOR CRISPY SHALLOTS RECIPE
Be careful when you fry the shallots as they get burnt very easily. You need to control the heat. Initially you can turn heat to high, and when the oil is heated up, add in the shallots. Once they start to change color, lower the heat to medium low. When they turn light brown, lower the heat further and continue to fry until it turns golden.
The last few minutes are crucial. Don't walk away even for a minute, you need to watch closely because it can get burnt in just a second. That would spell disaster and you will probably have to dump it because it will be too bitter and will ruin rather than enhance the dish that you have painstakingly prepared.
Its better to switch the fire off too early, rather than too late. If you switched the fire off early and the shallots are underdone, you can always turn the fire back on and fry them for a little while more. But once the shallots are burnt, you can't salvage them!