If offers a wonderful level of heat and spicy with touches of sweet and it is an important element in your arsenal for making authentic Korean cuisine. Learn more about it below. Common names also include Korean chili flakes, Korean hot pepper flakes, Korean red chili pepper flakes, and Korean chili powder. In the Korean regions, it is a must-have spice in the kitchen as it is an essential element for making gochujang, soups and stews, Kimchi, the famous cucumber salad, and other spicy food. The chili flakes might look like other flakes and powders on the market but the texture and taste are very different. It is noticeably bright red in color, and is essential to Korean food and cooking and used in many Korean recipes. It’s an essential Korean spice for Korean cooking.
How Is Gochugaru Made?
There are many Korean households who prefer making their own Gochugaru rather than buying from the market. To make their own, they buy dried korean red chili pepper from the market and follow these steps to make it at home. How to Make Gochugaru: Korean cuisine awaits your cooking!
Gochujang – It is made with Gochugaru but has some ingredients such as sticky rice, salt, and soybeans to make a paste. The texture will be different but you will surely get the taste of Gochugaru. However, make sure you add less salt to the dish, as Gochujang is already somewhat salty. Red Pepper Powder – Consider Indian red chili powder or smoked or hot paprika powder or flakes, or a spicy Hungarian paprika for vibrant color and a touch of heat and spicy flavor. Cayenne powder is a great substitute as well. Chipotle Powder – This is the substitute to go for the smoky taste. Chipotle powder is made by grounding the dried and smoked jalapeno peppers. Cayenne Pepper Flakes – The texture of this spice is similar to Gochugaru and is already used in many Korean dishes, so you’ll obtain a similar flavor. If you opt for the flakes, they are spicier as compared to the powder. Also consider Aleppo pepper flakes.
Gochugaru is in flake or powder form whereas Gochujang is in paste form. In terms of taste, Gochujang has soybeans, glutinous rice, and salt mixed in it which means that the taste will be different as well. You can make your own gochujang from gochugaru but it will take time and effort. It is best to source the product online as your favorite specialty spice shop, as you can choose from different brands and quality. Here is a recommend link to purchase online: NOTE: This post was updated on 12/8/20 to include new information. It was originally published on 3/1/19.
