- Typically used in savoury cooking, crushed chillies are occasionally used in desserts and blends well with chocolate. adding to curries and Mexican dishes for a robust heat. Also great to add warmth to marinades, dressings and stir fries or sprinkled over pizzas.Dried chilli flakes, commonly labeled crushed red pepper flakes, are used to top pizza, stir-fries, spicy pastas, and many other dishes.