gochujang

noun

go·​chu·​jang ˈgō-ˈchü-ˈjäŋ How to pronounce gochujang (audio)
: 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 Beyond Sausage paired perfectly with the pungent red curry paste in this rice cake stir-fry, and swapping in Impossible Beef was unnoticeable in these spicy-sweet gochujang sloppy joes. Rebecca Gorena, Bon Appétit, 13 Aug. 2024 The spicy, salty, savory, and slightly sweet gochujang sauce (a staple sauce used in many Korean recipes) perks up the natural sweetness and floral aroma of the melon. Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 27 July 2024 Another commodity produced by the village was beans for gochujang; the beans are called jangdan, and this was formerly Jangdan County. William T. Vollmann, Harper's Magazine, 24 June 2024 The dough is made with rice flour, giving it a nice chew, and the sauce has a hint of gochujang, giving it a nice layer of depth and heat. Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 24 Apr. 2024 The pepperoni pizza weaves gochujang into its marinara, while the Seven Tigers homage to L.A.’s taco stands stacks al pastor onto a square pie with pickled onions and pineapple. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024 Likewise, the Spicy-G Mac & Cheese oozes with cheese and gochujang, and the all-day breakfast menu features touches like kimchi ketchup and wasabi crema. Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 21 Mar. 2024 Just dump shelf-stable gnocchi into a glossy gochujang sauce with hot dogs (yes, that’s right) and the starch from the chubby pillows will thicken the pot to perfection. Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appétit, 25 Apr. 2024 The setting is a fetching backdrop to a surprisingly long a la carte menu whose small-plate highlights include juicy pork belly and kabocha squash gyoza and tuna tartare — red with gochujang and fruity with apple — scooped up with nubby tempura seaweed chips. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gochujang.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gochujang was in 1966

Dictionary Entries Near gochujang

Cite this Entry

“Gochujang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gochujang. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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