What does it taste like?
Sweet-hot, savory, fermented, and concentrated rather than sharply spicy.
Korean seasonings
Gochujang
고추장
Common aliases
gochujang · korean chili paste · korean red pepper paste · hot pepper paste
What is Gochujang?
Gochujang is a fermented Korean paste made with red pepper powder, grain, and fermented soybean. It brings heat, sweetness, and savory depth.
How is it used?
Mix into bibimbap, tteokbokki, marinades, dipping sauces, and some stews.
Where can you buy it?
Look for red tubs at Korean or Asian grocers; heat and sweetness vary by brand.
How should you store it?
Seal tightly and refrigerate after opening to protect flavor and color.
Possible substitutes
Combine miso, gochugaru, and a little sweetener for a functional substitute. It will not reproduce the same fermented flavor.
Recipes using Gochujang
Soups & Stews
Blue Crab and Clam Stew(꽃게바지락찌개)
A savory seafood stew with blue crab, clams, radish, zucchini, bean sprouts, and a lightly seasoned anchovy-kelp broth.
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Soups & Stews
Budae Jjigae with Crown Daisy(쑥갓부대찌개)
A spicy stew of ham, zucchini, tofu, enoki mushrooms, kimchi, and chili pepper simmered in kelp broth and finished with fresh crown daisy.
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Side Dishes
Doenjang-Seasoned Amaranth Greens(비름나물 된장무침)
Blanched amaranth greens and onion tossed with a doenjang, gochujang, mayonnaise, garlic, and ginger dressing, then finished with sesame oil and sesame seeds.
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Side Dishes
Fresh-Seasoned Eggplant Kimchi(가지겉절이)
Tender eggplant is lightly salted with fish soy sauce, squeezed dry, and tossed with onion, scallions, chilies, and a tangy gochujang seasoning before a short rest.
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Side Dishes
Grilled Hairtail with Gochujang Glaze(갈치고추장구이)
Pan-grilled hairtail brushed with a savory-spicy gochujang glaze flavored with onion, garlic, plum extract, ginger, and sesame.
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Side Dishes
Grilled Seasoned Bellflower Root(통도라지양념구이)
Whole bellflower root flattened, grilled, and glazed with a savory-spicy pear and gochujang sauce, then finished with chives and sesame seeds.
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Main Dishes
Spicy Bean Sprout Sujebi(얼큰 콩나물 수제비)
A spicy hand-torn noodle soup with bean sprouts in a roasted dried pollock head broth seasoned with gochujang and red pepper flakes.
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Side Dishes
Spicy Whelk Salad(골뱅이무침)
Whelk tossed with cucumber, onion, water parsley, perilla leaves, and a tangy low-sodium chili-vinegar sauce.
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Rice Dishes
Spring Greens Rice(봄나물밥)
Brown rice and short-grain rice are cooked with crown daisy and wild chives, then served with a mild tofu sauce made with gochujang, doenjang, and kelp broth.
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