gochujang

noun

go·​chu·​jang ˈgō-ˈchü-ˈjäŋ 

: a spicy paste used in Korean cuisine that is made from red chili peppers, glutinous rice, and fermented soybeans

With Ms. Kim's encouragement, I made a version of her Korean bouillabaisse by sautéing kimchi with gochujang, soy sauce and fish sauce, then adding stock and a mix of shrimp, scallops and mussels. The gochujang added flavor and served as a thickener.

—Jane Black

Korean supermarkets, like H Mart in Manhattan, carry not only all manner of foods—like gochujang, three-layered pork belly, and Korean snacks—but also a range of practical (affordable) kitchen and home goods.

—Lauren Ro

Examples of gochujang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For mains, there’s a 12-ounce ribeye with royal oyster mushrooms, peppercorn sauce and golden hasselback potatoes ($48); a lamb rack glazed with spicy gochujang and chimichurri ($39); and roasted Atlantic salmon with baby carrots, asparagus and tarragon beurre blanc ($28). —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2025

Long in the shadows of its cousins gochujang and doenjang, chunjang — the ingredient that slicks the noodles black — shines in its own way, closer in flavor to Chinese tianmian sauce, or what makes Peking duck taste like Peking duck. —The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2025

Serve with chips and if desired drizzle with gochujang or sriracha. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025

Toki Doki: The Eat Street burger joint is serving wings with both a dry rub and a homemade, gluten-free gochujang sauce. —Kyle Stokes, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025

Sauces and condiments, like a sweet and spicy gochujang or a tamarind honey yogurt, were flavorful additions to dishes like a chicken and broccoli stir-fry or paneer curry. —Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025

The gochujang adds spicy notes to the cocktail as well as a subtle smokiness and a bit of sweetness on the finish. —Aly Walansky, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

Instead of relying on jalapeño peppers for heat, gochujang — a spicy, savory, fermented red chili paste that’s a staple in Korean cooking — is used in the tequila cocktail, along with lime juice and triple sec, to add a touch of heat. —Aly Walansky, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

And if that isn’t enough, another round brings out more fried chicken, tossed in either soy garlic or gochujang glaze. —Brendan Le, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Korean kojujang, from koju "red pepper" + chang "paste made from soybean and other ingredients" (borrowed from a Middle Chinese antecedent of Beijing Chinese jiàng "soybean paste")

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above