The Korean fever is the country is no stranger to us. The BTS songs and K-dramas have kept a lot of us hooked on to them during the pandemic. So much so that we have an entire fan base of BTS call themselves the army. The result has been an upsurge in the demand for Korean merchandise and their special food. When we see our favourite characters slurping on a bowl of ramen, we get tempted to try it ourselves. While the names of their dishes might be difficult to pronounce, this has not dimmed the spirits of these K-pop fans.
Kimchi is one of the most commonly-known words these days when you are talking about Korean food. However, there’s another important item that you might have missed out on, gochujang. For those untouched by the phenomenon, gochujang is a fiery and spice Korean sauce that is added to almost every dish on the Korean platter. From bibimbaps to tteokbokkis, this gochujang has created a space for itself in each of them. It is believed that this red chilli powder called gochu garu, fermented soyabean powder, glutinous rice and barley malt powder combination lends the dishes a distinct umami flavour which is unmatched.
The fermented sauce/condiment not only makes the food flavourful but also brings with it, a vast array of health benefits. For instance, it is claimed that this practice of adding gochujang to your food speeds up your metabolic rate due to presence of capsaicin which enables weight loss too. The hot and spicy chilli peppers that go into the making of this vibrant paste function as anti-oxidants in your body. It is also said to reduce the risk of heart diseases and keep your heart healthy.
Now that you know why this fundamental Korean ingredient is good for you, why not make delicious dishes with it.
1. Korean Meatloaf With Gochujang Glaze
The ground pork is layered in a container and tossed in loads of breads crumbs. The meatloaf is baked in the oven and glazed with a generous amount of gochujang. Not only does it provide the meatloaf a rich and vibrant colour, it also makes it taste better.
2. Gochujang Ramen With Tofu
The protein-loaded ramen bowl needs a little extra edge. What can be done about it? Drop in a little gochujang. This fiery paste is sure to take your soupy ramen bowl a notch higher.
3. Gochujang Chicken Drumsticks
Crispy and juicy, chicken drumsticks can be marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, gochujang and sesame oil. This is then baked in the oven and what you get are flavourful and colourful chicken drumsticks.
