Gochujang—Korean Hot Pepper Paste (2024)

FAQs

How to use gochujang hot pepper paste? ›

Try it as a baste on chicken wings or pork ribs, or added to soup broths like in my Spicy Pork Miso Noodle Soup. Gochujang can also be used in marinades for meat dishes like Korean bulgogi, stirred into dipping sauces, or used to punch up stews.

Gochugaru is ground Korean chili pepper, while gochujang is a chili paste. Both are staples of Korean cooking and even derive from the same pepper; however, they are distinct ingredients.

The most authentic gochujang replacement combines miso paste and sriracha with a little pinch of sugar. If you try to just swap in another Asian sauce like sriracha or sambal oelek as a 1:1 gochujang substitute, your dish will be spicier and more acidic than intended. Hot sauces contain vinegar, and gochujang does not.

The cool thing about gochujang is it's not spice-your-face-off spicy. It's more of a subtle spice because it's balanced with other flavors. Plus, you can control the spice level when you make your own! So even if you're typically averse to spicy food, give this one a try!

On its own, gochujang is quite pungent, so it's usually mixed with other ingredients to balance its intensity.

Fermented soybeans in Gochujang makes it a great source of probiotics that can boost healthy gut microbiomes. Probiotics are live bacteria that are beneficial for digestion and overall gut health. However, it's important to note that Gochujang also contains chili peppers, which can be spicy.

Although it is rarely, if ever, used as a finishing sauce, gochujang can be used straight from the tub. In fact, many Koreans will eat it as is as an accompaniment to raw vegetables (like crudité) and dried anchovies.

Meet gochujang, the savory Korean sauce that, like sriracha, is made from fermented red peppers, but has a more savory, salty, deep flavor. “It's like hot sauce-meets-umami flavor,” chef Edward Lee, owner of 610 Magnolia & Milkwood in Louisville, Kentucky, told ABC News.

Hoisin Sauce: While hoisin sauce is not as spicy as gochujang, it can still substitute for a similar umami-rich flavor. Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark sauce made from soybeans, garlic, sugar, and various spices. It has a slightly sweet and tangy taste that can add depth to stir-fries, marinades, and glazes.

Tomato ketchup has the similar sweetness but it doesn't have any of the chilli heat in Gochujang. Combining hot chilli powder with ketchup adds both the heat and the sweetness that comes from Gochujang.

Is harissa the same as gochujang? ›

On paper, harissa paste shares a lot in common with gochujang paste. It's thick, sweet, spicy and packed full of flavor. The problem is, it's the wrong flavors. Harissa paste contains spices like cumin and caraway seeds, which just don't feature in Korean food.

A "Mild" well-balanced Hot Sauce with enormous flavor. So simple to make you'll be amazed! A juicy mix ~ includes fresh red peppers and tomatoes for natural sweetness and Gochugaru Chili Flakes.

Gochujang is sweet, spicy, fruity, savoury, and unlike anything else. “It's also quite salty, but has a lot of depth to it,” Scott adds. Also, once it's cooked down in fat, the flavour softens.

An unopened container of gochujang can last over two years when kept in a cool, dry place, and even after opening, it can retain its quality for several months to a year or more if refrigerated and sealed tightly.

In a small bowl, mix the gochujang and soy sauce using a fork until you get a smooth sauce. Cook the ramen or udon according to package instructions. Turn the heat off about 1-2 minutes before it's fully cooked, then drain and rinse with cold water.

In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients—gochujang, sugar, honey, rice wine vinegar, minced garlic, sesame oil—together until well-blended. If the sauce consistency is too thick, thin it out with some warm water, mixing in a little at a time.

You can use different types of chili pastes, including fresh, dried, and fermented chili pastes, in your main courses, including curries, stir-fries, and stews. You can also use fish sauce chili paste in stews and soups to add savory depth to your dishes.