Today, I’m going to make a more delicious Gochujang Mac and Cheese using gochujang which enhances the umami flavor and balances the richness of the cheese, making it the perfect ingredient.
What Is Gochujang? (고추장)
Gochujang (고추장) is a traditional Korean condiment made primarily from chili powder mixed with glutinous rice and fermented soybeans. Along with doenjang (soybean paste) and ganjang (soy sauce), it is one of the most iconic traditional condiments in Korea. It can be used in a variety of dishes such as stews, soups and side dishes.
Taste
It contains gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), giving it a mildly spicy, salty flavor with a touch of sweetness.
How Spicy?
It has a medium level of spiciness. Let me compare it to other sauces for you.
- Sauce less spicy: sweet chili sauce
- Sauce spicier: sriracha
Gochujang In Cooking?
It is used not only as a sauce, but also as an ingredient in various dishes. It can be made into a stew, or used to create other main dishes like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken).
I made Korean BBQ pork ribs using gochujang. The combination of sweet barbecue sauce and spiciness creates a truly delicious recipe.
What is Mac and Cheese?
It is a classic comfort food, so much so that my American friends often refer to it as soul food. It is made with pasta (usually elbow macaroni) and a creamy cheese sauce. The cheese sauce is thickened with cheddar cheese, milk, butter, and flour, resulting in a rich, savory, and slightly salty flavor.
Gochujang Mac and Cheese
In reality, Koreans have been mixing gochujang with milk to create ‘Korean Rose Sauce’ for a long time, using it in various dishes like Rose Tteokbokki and Rose jjimdak. Now, it’s referred to as “gochujang cream” abroad and has become a trendy sauce! Let’s make the delicious Gochujang Mac and Cheese with the trendy Korean rose sauce.
Gochujang Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 200 g Macaroni
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 1 Tbsp All-purpose flour
- 200 ml Milk
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang If you're worried about it being too spicy, feel free to use 0.5 tablespoons instead.
- 3 Slices Cheddar cheese
- 150 g Mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp Salt to boil the macaroni
- 0.5 tsp Parsley
Method
- Boil the water and add pinch of salt
- Boil the macaroni
- Melt 2 Tbsp of butter in a pot.
- Once the butter has melted, add 1 Tbsp of flour and mix well.
- When the flour is well combined, pour in a large cup of milk (200ml) and simmer on medium-low heat.
- Add 3 slices of cheddar cheese.
- Add a handful of mozzarella cheese.
- Add 1/2 to 1 Tbsp of gochujang(I like it strong, so I used 1 Tbsp).
- Add the macaroni into the sauce
- Once the sauce is thickened, add a generous amount of mozzarella cheese
- Sprinkle parsley on the top.
- Microwave for 3 minutes to melt the cheese
- Using an air fryer or oven will give the cheese a crispier texture
This Gochujang Mac & Cheese is EVERYTHING! 🧀🔥 The creamy, cheesy goodness with just the right amount of spicy kick from the gochujang takes mac and cheese to a whole new level. The mix of mozzarella and cheddar makes it so melty and delicious, and the stone pot really gives it that extra warmth. I can’t get enough of this fusion comfort food—totally craving it for lunch every day now! If you’re into Korean flavors and cheesy pasta, this is a must-try! 😋🍜