noun
chili oil
A Chinese-style condiment made by infusing oil with chili peppers and other aromatics; commonly used in Japanese interpretations of Chinese dishes like tantanmen and gyoza.
from Chinese làyóu
餃子のタレにラー油を少し垂らすと、風味が増す。
Adding a few drops of chili oil to the gyoza dipping sauce enhances the flavor.
坦々麺には欠かせないラー油の辛さが食欲をそそる。
The spiciness of the chili oil, essential for tantanmen, whets the appetite.
Borrowed from Chinese 辣油 (làyóu), literally 'spicy oil'. The Japanese form ラー油 combines the katakana rendering of the Chinese reading with the kanji 油.