What is a good substitute for Gochujang?
Christopher Snyder
Updated on March 14, 2026
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Also know, is Kochujang the same as Gochujang?
Gochujang (Korean fermented red pepper sauce, also written in Kochujang), along with kimchi, is an age-old ethnic food made with Korea's representative ingredient, red pepper. The basic method for making Gochujang in the present is almost the same as it was in the past.
Likewise, what is Gochujang sauce made of? Gochujang is a red chile paste that also contains glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, salt, and sometimes sweeteners. It's a thick, sticky condiment that's spicy and very concentrated and pungent in flavor.
Then, can you substitute Gochujang for Gochugaru?
Gochujang is a Korean chili paste with a strong miso-based flavor. It's sweet, salty, and earthy in taste – and it can work in certain use cases as a gochugaru substitute. Soup and sauce recipes may work very well with this substitution, but consider the overall salt levels in the recipe when trying.
What can I substitute for Calabrian chili paste?
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes. Aram David/Demand Media. Crushed red pepper flakes are dried cayenne peppers that have been crushed.
- Hot Sauce. A bottle of your favorite hot sauce is a simple substitution for chili paste.
- Ketchup With Ground Cayenne Pepper. Ketchup has a very similar texture to chili paste.
Is Gochujang spicier than Sriracha?
Gochujang gets its burst of umami from fermented soybean paste while sriracha gets its savory quality from the garlic it contains, which is much milder. The glutinous rice dives it a thicker and starchier texture than sriracha along with a little sweetness.Where can I find Gochujang?
Gochujang is usually sold in tubs and can be found in Asian markets and the international foods section many grocery stores. Once opened, gochujang should be stored in the refrigerator and can last for up to one year.What does Gochujang taste like?
What does gochujang taste like? 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.How hot is Gochujang paste?
Gochujang hot-taste unit| Extreme Hot | > 100 |
|---|---|
| Very Hot | 75–100 |
| Medium Hot | 45–75 |
| Slight Hot | 30–45 |
| Mild Hot | < 30 |