What does it taste like?
Fruity, gently smoky, and moderately hot with less bitterness than many generic chili powders.
Korean seasonings
Gochugaru
고춧가루
Common aliases
gochugaru · korean chili flakes · korean red pepper flakes · korean chili powder
What is Gochugaru?
Gochugaru is Korean red pepper sold as flakes or powder. It gives kimchi, stews, and seasoned vegetables their warm red color and clean heat.
How is it used?
Bloom in oil, stir into sauces, or season kimchi and vegetable salads.
Where can you buy it?
Choose coarse flakes for kimchi and finer powder for sauces. Refrigerated stock often keeps color better.
How should you store it?
Keep airtight in the freezer or refrigerator away from light.
Possible substitutes
Aleppo pepper is a gentler substitute; crushed red pepper works but is usually sharper and hotter.
Recipes using Gochugaru
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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Side Dishes
Bok Choy Kimchi(청경채 김치)
Fresh bok choy is lightly salted and coated with a pear, plum extract, chili, garlic, and ginger seasoning.
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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 Lettuce Salad(상추 겉절이)
Crisp lettuce, chives, onion, and red chili lightly tossed in a tangy plum, soy sauce, chili, and sesame dressing.
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Side Dishes
Fresh Napa Cabbage Kimchi Salad(배추겉절이)
Fresh baby napa cabbage and scallions tossed in a spicy dressing of potato, chili powder, plum syrup, fish sauce, salted shrimp, radish, onion, ginger, and garlic.
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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
Fresh-Seasoned Purslane Salad(비름나물겉절이)
A fresh purslane salad lightly salted and tossed with a savory, mildly spicy seasoning of fish sauce, soy sauce, plum extract, and sesame.
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Side Dishes
Green Garlic and Dried Squid Kimchi(풋마늘오징어김치)
Fresh green garlic and dried squid are coated in a lightly thickened spicy seafood seasoning and served fresh or lightly fermented.
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