Gochujang Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is gochujang sauce made of? ›

We've got you covered. What is it? Gochujang, a fundamental ingredient in Korean cooking, is a thick and spicy-sweet crimson paste made from red chile pepper flakes, glutinous rice (also known as sticky rice), fermented soybeans, and salt.

Gochujang can also be used in marinades for meat dishes like Korean bulgogi, stirred into dipping sauces, or used to punch up stews. It's also surprisingly versatile in fusion and more European-inspired dishes – it adds a wonderful smoky intensity to my Quick(ish) Asian Ragu, for example.

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.

In its truest form, gochujang is sold as a thick paste, often in plastic tubs and glass jars, and ready for cooking. The kind labeled a sauce or condiment is the same paste, thinned out with other ingredients such as sugar and vinegar.

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.

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.

So, what does gochujang taste like? To compare it with two popular sauces that almost always comes up in the same breath, gochujang is like the love child of sriracha and miso—spicy like the former, pungent like the latter—with a hint of sweetness.

Gochujang mixed with doenjang is the base for ssamjang, a popular dipping sauce in Korean barbecue, and in marinades for Korean barbecue meats like bulgogi and bibimbap. Gochujang rates on the Scoville Heat Units (SHU) scale at less than 1,000 units, while gochujang is on the even milder side.

While it may not have the same Korean flavor profile as gochujang, harissa paste can still provide a fiery heat to your dishes. Harissa paste tends to be spicier than gochujang, so adjust the quantity according to your tolerance level.

How long does gochujang last? ›

Unopened gochujang can last for two years when stored in a cool, dark place like a pantry. Once opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator and can typically last for a year. Signs that your gochujang has spoiled include an off smell, mould, and discoloured or watery texture.

We've seen Gochujang Paste from Trader Joe's before. That's more like the unadulterated source material while this product is truly a sauce ready for application and implementation. It's not quite as potent, spice-wise, since it's mixed with rice vinegar and soy sauce.

What Does Gochujang Taste Like? Gochujang is spicy, salty, earthy and sweet. It has a texture that is thick and sticky. The paste is spicy because of the Korean red pepper flakes, but the exact level of heat will depend on the cultivar used—spiciness can range from medium to very hot.

Is gochujang sauce Healthy? Gochujang is made from red chili peppers, sticky rice, soybeans, and salt. It is a fermented food, which is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins. Fermented food can also be beneficial to gut health and aid digestion.

Sure, gochujang has heat — depending on the brand, it can be extraordinarily spicy — but it also has a salty, almost meaty depth and a slight sweetness. In other words, it's not a one-note hot sauce that you add to a dish after the fact. If you want to see Korean chefs bristle, tout gochujang as the “next Sriracha.”

Gochujang Classic - 1kg & 3kg: Red pepper mixed seasoning (red pepper powder, water, salt, garlic, onion), corn syrup, brown rice, water, fermented soybean paste (soybean, salt) salt, isomaltooligosaccharide, alcohol (to preserve freshness), red pepper powder, sweet brown rice flour, yeast extract powder (flavour ...