Kochujang

''Gochujang'' or red chili paste
* is a savory, sweet, and spicy fermented condiment popular in Korean cooking. It is made from ''gochugaru'' (red chili powder), glutinous rice, ''meju'' (fermented soybean) powder, ''yeotgireum'' (barley malt powder), and salt. The sweetness comes from the starch of cooked glutinous rice, cultured with saccharifying enzymes during the fermentation process. Traditionally, it would be naturally fermented over years in ''jangdok'' (earthenware) on an elevated stone platform called ''jangdokdae'' in the backyard.

History

''Shiyi xinjian'' (), a mid-9th century Chinese document, recorded the Korean pepper paste as (). The second-oldest documentation of pepper paste is found in the 1433 Korean book '' Collected Prescriptions of Native Korean Medicines''. Pepper paste is again mentioned in a 1445 medical encyclopedia named '' Compendia of Medical Prescriptions''. However, all these sources are from the time before the actual chilli peppers were introduced to Korea.

Chili peppers, which originated in the Americas, were introduced to East Asia by Portuguese traders in the early 16th century. There is mention of a type of chili pepper brought to Korea found in '' Collected Essays of Jibong'', an encyclopedia published in 1614. ''Farm Management'', a book from , discussed the cultivation methods of chili peppers.

The history of Sunchang gochujang's becoming a regional specialty dates back to the 14th century at the start of the Joseon Dynasty era (1392–1910) when the founder Yi Seong-gye made gochujang from the Sunchang region a part of Korean palace cuisine.

When Yi Seong-gye, who went on to become the founder and first king of Joseon as King Taejo, was on a trip to Manilsa Temple to pray to the mountain god, he is said to have eaten a bowl of barley ''bibimbab'' (spicy mixed rice with vegetables) with ''gochujang'' that he found unforgettably delicious. He loved it so much that he ordered it served to the royal family when he became king. Thus Sunchang ''gochujang'' gained fame as a regional specialty.

In the 18th-century books, '' Somun saseol'' () and '' Revised and Augmented Farm Management'', ''gochujang'' is written as , using hanja characters and . It is also mentioned that Sunchang County was renowned for its ''gochujang'' production. China and Japan, the countries with which Korea has historically shared the most culture and trade, do not include gochujang in their traditional cuisines.

Historical recipes

Gochujang ingredients reported in '' Jeungbo sallim gyeongje'' were of powdered and sieved ''meju'' (fermented soybeans), of chili powder, and of glutinous rice flour, as well as soup soy sauce for adjusting the consistency. The gochujang recipe in '' Gyuhap chongseo'', an 1809 cookbook, uses powdered ''meju'' made from of soybeans and of glutinous rice, then adding of chili powder and ''bap'' made from of glutinous rice.

Ingredients

''Gochujang's'' primary ingredients are red chili powder (), glutinous rice powder, powdered fermented soybeans, and salt. Korean chili peppers, of the species ''Capsicum annuum'', are spicy yet sweet, making them ideal for ''gochujang'' production. According to, gochujang is typically made from 25% red pepper powder, 22.2% glutinous rice, 5.5% meju powder (60% cooked soybeans and 40% non-glutinous rice), 12.8% salt, 5% malt, and 29% water.

Other recipes use glutinous rice (), normal short-grain rice (), or barley. Less common additions include whole wheat kernels, jujubes, pumpkin, and sweet potato. A small amount of sweetener, such as sugar, syrup, or honey, is also sometimes added. The finished product is a dark red paste, with a rich, piquant flavor.

The making of ''gochujang'' at home began tapering off when commercial production came into the mass market in the early 1970s. Now, most Koreans purchase ''gochujang'' at grocery stores or markets. It is still used extensively in Korean cooking to flavor stews (''jjigae''), such as in ''gochujang jjigae''; to marinate meat, such as in ''gochujang bulgogi''; and as a condiment for ''naengmyeon'' and ''bibimbap''.

Gochujang is also used as a base for making other condiments, such as ''chogochujang'' () and ''ssamjang'' (). ''Chogochujang'' is a variant of gochujang made by adding vinegar and other seasonings, such as sugar and sesame seeds. It is usually used as a sauce for '' hoe'' and ''hoedeopbap''. Similarly, ''ssamjang'' is a mixture of mainly gochujang and ''doenjang'', with chopped onions and other spicy seasonings, and it is popular with ''sangchussam'' ().

Gochujang hot-taste unit

Gochujang hot-taste unit (GHU) is a unit of measurement for the pungency (spicy heat) of gochujang, based on the gas chromatography and the high-performance liquid chromatography of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin concentrations.

Gochujang products are assigned to one of the five levels of spiciness: Mild, Slight Hot, Medium Hot, Very Hot, and Extreme Hot.

Uses

Gochujang is used in various dishes such as ''bibimbap'' and ''tteokbokki'', and in salads, stews, soups, and marinated meat dishes. Gochujang may make dishes spicier (depending on the capsaicin in the base chili), but also can make them sweeter and smokier.

Further reading

*

See also

* ''Doenjang''
* ''Ssamjang''
* Chili pepper paste
* Biber salçası
* Filfel chuma
* Harissa
* ''Jeow bong''
* Doubanjiang
* Sambal
* Sriracha
* Yuzukoshō
* Zhug
* Fermented bean paste
* Ají (sauce)

Notes

References

{{Hot sauces

Chili paste
Fermented soy-based foods
Korean condiments
Korean words and phrases
Joseon cuisine