Chili oil is a condiment made from vegetable oil that has been infused with chili peppers. Different types of oil and hot peppers are used, and other components may also be included. It is commonly used in Chinese cuisine, East and Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Particularly popular in Sichuan cuisine, Hunan cuisine, and Shaanxi cuisine it is used as an ingredient in cooked dishes as well as a condiment. It is sometimes used as a dip for meat and dim sum. It is also employed in the Korean Chinese noodle soup dish jjamppong. Chili oil is typically red in color. It is made from vegetable oil, often soybean oil or sesame oil, although olive oil or other oils may be used. Other spices may be included such as Sichuan pepper, garlic, or paprika. Commercial preparations may include other kinds of oil, water, dried garlic, soy sauce, and sugar. Recipes targeted to Western cooks also suggest other popular oils such as rapeseed, grapeseed or peanut, and any dried or fresh chili peppers. The solids typically settle to the bottom of the container in which it is stored. When using chili oil, the cook or diner may choose how much of the solids to use; sometimes only the oil is used, without any solids. Chili oil is easy to prepare, and is also commercially available in glass jars or bottles.
China
Chili oil has various names in China. It is called yóu pō là zǐ in Shaanxi province and là yóu or hóng yóu in Sichuan province. Among those names the most popular one is là jiāo yóu. In China, chili oil is prepared basically by pouring hot vegetable oil slowly on chili pepper powder or chopped chili pepper. Many other ingredients can be added alongside to enrich flavor such as Chinese black vinegar, minced garlic, dried ginger skin, sesame seeds, sesame oil, Sichuan peppercorn, cinnamon, star anise and bay leaf. There are also many condiments derived from chili oil, such as Lao Gan Ma, made with chili oil and Douchi. Chili oil can be consumed directly with other food. It is used extensively in cooking all over China especially in Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Hunan cuisine. Like Hóngyóu chāoshǒu and Dàn dàn Noodles.
Japan
The Japanese variety of Chinese chili oil is known as rāyu, used in Japan as a cooking ingredient or as a condiment. It is typically a clear, chili-infused sesame oil, and the chopped chili pepper used is typically red, imparting a reddish tint to the oil. Other ingredients used may include soy oil, corn oil, dried aloe, ginger, guava leaves, leek leaves, paprika, and turmeric. A new type of product known as taberu rāyu was introduced in 2009. It is less spicy-hot, and includes chunks of food such as fried garlic and fried onion in the oil.
Italy
The Italian variety of chili oil originates from the southern region of Calabria. This variety of chili oil uses olive oil as a base, and has a unique brine flavor. The Peperoncino is a popular food item in Calabria.
Portugal
Portuguese chili oil is made by cold infusion of dried red chili peppers in olive oil in a tightly capped bottle for one month.
