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chili oil
A spicy condiment made by infusing vegetable oil with chili peppers. Commonly used in Chinese and Japanese cooking as a topping or seasoning.
ラー油 comes from Chinese 辣油 (làyóu). It is a staple condiment in Japanese households, commonly placed on the table alongside soy sauce and vinegar for Chinese-style dishes.
Common collocations
- ラー油をかける: to drizzle chili oil
- 食べるラー油: crunchy chili oil (with crispy garlic and onion bits)
- ラー油をつける: to dip in chili oil
Usage
食べるラー油 ("eating chili oil") became a massive food trend in Japan around 2009-2010. Unlike regular chili oil, it contains crunchy bits of fried garlic and onion and is eaten as a topping.