Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste, A Family Favorite Rice Thief Recipe
A magical, versatile sauce made with just onions and gochujang (고추장). This recipe brings out a deep, rich sweetness and a delightful crunch without added sugar, making it perfect for bibimbap, ssamjang (쌈장 - dipping sauce for wraps), or as a meat marinade.
📝 Editor's Notes
This Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste, often called a 'rice thief' because it makes you eat so much rice, is a versatile sauce that uses the natural sweetness and crisp texture of onions without any added sugar.
The deep flavor of gochujang (고추장) combined with the sweet onions creates an unforgettable umami taste.
The process is simple, making it easy for beginners to follow, and it's perfect for various Korean dishes like bibimbap, ssamjang (쌈장 - dipping sauce for wraps), or meat marinades.
It's a healthy and less stimulating yak-gochujang (약고추장) recipe that everyone, young and old, can enjoy, as it's palatable yet stimulates the appetite.
🛒 Ingredient Tips
The star of this recipe, the onion, should be firm, plump, and have a shiny, crisp skin.
Fresh onions typically have crackling skin and clean ends.
Avoid any onions that feel soft, have mold, or have started to sprout.
This recipe is designed for commercial gochujang (고추장); if you use homemade gochujang (고추장), which can be significantly saltier, you may need to adjust the amount of gochujang (고추장) or add an extra onion to achieve a balanced flavor.
High-quality ingredients are key to making delicious yak-gochujang (약고추장).
🔄 Substitution Guide
If you need to use alternative ingredients instead of gochujang (고추장), there are a few options.
For those who dislike spicy food or are making it for children, you can use a mix of doenjang (된장 - fermented soybean paste) and soy sauce, or chunjang (춘장 - black bean paste) to create a jjajang (짜장 - black bean sauce) yak-gochujang (약고추장).
If using doenjang (된장), adjust the amount as its saltiness can be higher than gochujang (고추장), and you might need to add a bit more water or broth.
Also, using guk-ganjang (국간장 - Korean soup soy sauce) instead of brewed soy sauce will result in a saltier taste, so reduce the amount by half.
While perilla oil can be used instead of sesame oil for a richer nutty flavor, its strong aroma might not be to everyone's liking.
🥘 Ingredients
👨🍳 Cooking Points
There are two crucial points for making delicious Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste.
First, the process of stir-frying the onions: thoroughly heat your pan, add 1 tbsp of cooking oil, and once you see a slight wisp of smoke, add the diced onions and stir-fry them quickly over high heat for 3 minutes.
The onions should become translucent and their edges should start to lightly brown to maximize their sweet flavor.
Second, the simmering time for the gochujang (고추장) paste: simmer over medium heat for about 6 minutes and 30 seconds.
It's important not to over-simmer, as the paste can become too hard when cooled.
It's best to turn off the heat when it's slightly thinner than your desired final consistency.
Gently scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spatula helps ensure even cooking and prevents sticking.
👨🍳 Directions
Finely dice 2 onions into approximately 0.2-inch (0.5cm) cubes. To reduce their pungency, you can chill them in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before chopping, and leave the root end slightly intact when cutting.
Heat a pan sufficiently, then add 1 tbsp of cooking oil. Once a slight wisp of smoke appears from the oil, add the diced onions and stir-fry quickly over high heat for 3 minutes. Continue to cook until the onions become translucent and their edges start to lightly brown.
After 3 minutes, add 1 tbsp of minced garlic, 10 tbsp of gochujang (고추장), 1 tbsp of soy sauce, and 1/2 cup of water. Mix well and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
Once it starts boiling, immediately reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for about 6 minutes and 30 seconds, gently scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spatula to prevent sticking. When the sauce deepens in color and thickens to a desired consistency, turn off the heat. Be careful not to simmer for too long, as it can become too hard when cooled; it's better to turn off the heat when it's slightly thinner than your final desired consistency.
After turning off the heat, while residual heat remains, drizzle in 2 tbsp of sesame oil and mix lightly. Your Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste is now complete.
💡 Tips
A good onion should be firm and plump, with a shiny, crisp skin, and clean ends. Avoid onions that are soft, moldy, or have sprouts.
Do not store onions in plastic bags in the refrigerator, as humidity can cause mold. Instead, store them in a mesh bag or wrapped in newspaper in a cool, well-ventilated place to keep them fresh for over a month.
This recipe is based on commercial gochujang (고추장). If using homemade gochujang, which can be much saltier, you may need to reduce the amount of gochujang or add one more onion to balance the flavor.
Store the finished Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste in a clean, sterilized glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. For longer storage, divide it into smaller containers and freeze for up to 2 months.
📦 Storage & Reuse
Store the finished Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste in an airtight, sterilized container in the refrigerator for approximately 2 weeks to keep it fresh.
For longer storage, we recommend portioning it out and freezing.
When frozen, it can last for over a month, and after thawing, you can reheat it in the microwave or over low heat.
Leftover Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste can be used as an ingredient for bibimbap, enjoyed like ssamjang (쌈장 - dipping sauce) with leafy greens, or mixed into meat marinades as a versatile sauce to enhance umami.
🥢 Who This Is For
We highly recommend this Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste for anyone looking for a healthy and delicious meal in their busy daily lives.
When mixed with warm rice, it's so good you won't need any other side dishes – truly a 'rice thief'!
It also enhances the flavor of grilled meats when served with lettuce or perilla leaf wraps.
Making it in advance makes it a very useful item for camping trips or picnics.
It's a versatile sauce that the whole family can enjoy.
🔥 Nutrition Info
One serving (approximately 3.5 oz or 100g) of this Savory Onion Gochujang (고추장) Paste is estimated to be around 150-200 calories, which can vary depending on the fat and carbohydrate content of the gochujang (고추장) and sesame oil.
It's expected to contain about 20-25g of carbohydrates, 3-5g of protein, and 5-8g of fat.
Onions are rich in Vitamin C and dietary fiber, while gochujang (고추장) contains capsaicin, which can aid metabolism and stimulate appetite.
Allicin in garlic can also help boost immunity.
By using the natural sweetness of onions without added sugar, this paste offers a healthy and nutritionally balanced condiment.
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