4.8 from 116 votes
Homemade La-yu (Japanese Chili Oil)
Homemade La-yu is a Japanese-style chili oil made by infusing a blend of neutral and toasted sesame oils with aromatics like garlic, ginger, and green onion. The infused oil is then combined with coarse Korean chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns to create a richly flavored spicy oil. This preparation gently extracts the flavors without burning, resulting in a chili oil with a balanced aroma and moderate heat suitable for enhancing various dishes.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
1
batch
Calories:
1651 kcal
Course:
Condiments
Cuisine:
Japanese
Ingredients
- ½ cup neutral oil (use more for a milder flavor; I used untoasted sesame oil)
- ¼ cup sesame oil toasted
- 2 cloves garlic (sliced)
- 2 lices ginger
- 2 green parts of green onion or substitute the green parts of 4 green onions/scallions, aka Tokyo negi, naga negi, long green onion
- ⅓ cup gochugaru coarse; you can find it on Amazon; if you like it very spicy, use Japanese ground red chili pepper (ichimi togarashi) and find it on Amazon, Korean pepper flakes
- ½ tsp Sichuan peppercorn
For Finishing
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil optional; to boost the aroma and sesame flavor, toasted
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- To a wok (I use a 10" carbon steel wok; use discount code “JOC10“ for 10% off) or large frying pan, add ½ cup neutral oil, ¼ cup toasted sesame oil, 2 cloves garlic (sliced), 2 slices ginger, and 2 green parts of Tokyo negi (naga negi; long green onion) (or 4 green onions).
- Heat the oil mixture on low heat. Cook and slowly extract the flavors from the aromatics without burning them, for about 15 minutes from the time the oil starts sizzling. Tip: The oil will become bitter if your aromatics burn, so take care to avoid this.
- After 15 minutes, turn off the heat. Remove the aromatics from the oil with a fine-mesh skimmer and discard them.
- With the stove‘s heat still off, add ⅓ cup gochugaru (Korean pepper flakes) and ½ tsp Sichuan peppercorns to the pan.
- Quickly stir and infuse the oil with the chili flakes and peppercorns using the oil‘s residual heat. The oil will sizzle when the mixture is first added and then fizzles as it cools. Allow it to steep and then cool completely to room temperature, for about 30 minutes. Once cooled, transfer the La-yu to a mason jar. Optionally, you can strain the chili flakes and peppercorns, but I like to keep them in the jar to continue infusing the oil; I also consume the chili flakes along with the chili oil. Once the La-yu has cooled, you can add 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil (optional) to the jar of chili oil as a finishing touch. Sesame oil loses its fragrance when heated, so adding a little bit of toasted sesame oil will boost the sesame flavor and aroma.
Cup of Yum
To Serve
- You can add a bit of La-yu to spice up any dish! We often use La-yu to season Japanese-style Chinese foods (Chuka ryori). You can drizzle it directly onto dishes like Miso Ramen, Black Sesame Dan Dan Noodles, and Mapo Tofu. Try it in a dipping sauce for Gyoza (Japanese Potstickers), Vegetable Gyoza, and Pork Shumai. La-yu is also delicious in a dressing for blanched vegetables like Chrysanthemum Greens Salad or in a marinade for dishes like Spicy Japanese Pickled Cucumbers and Cucumber and Chicken Marinated in Chili Oil.
To Store
- Store the La-yu in a clean glass jar for 1–2 months in the refrigerator. Chili oil can go bad and should be discarded if it has a rancid smell or a very unpleasant flavor.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Serving
180ml (¾ cup)
Calories
1651kcal
(83%)
Carbohydrates
37g
(12%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
174g
(268%)
Saturated Fat
26g
(130%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
91g
(535%)
Monounsaturated Fat
49g
(245%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Sodium
1164mg
(49%)
Potassium
1413mg
(30%)
Fiber
25g
(100%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
21057IU
(421%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
244mg
(24%)
Iron
13mg
(72%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 batch
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1651
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 180ml (¾ cup) | |
| Calories | 1651kcal | 83% |
| Carbohydrates | 37g | 12% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 174g | 268% |
| Saturated Fat | 26g | 130% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 91g | 535% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 49g | 245% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Sodium | 1164mg | 49% |
| Potassium | 1413mg | 30% |
| Fiber | 25g | 100% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 21057IU | 421% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 244mg | 24% |
| Iron | 13mg | 72% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.