Black Garlic Gochujang Maple Syrup Hot Sauce

What is Gochujang?

Gochujang is a Korean red chili paste. It’s a thick hot sauce with funky, sweet, umami flavors. Gochujang sauce is a fermented Korean chili paste made from glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, red chili pepper flakes, and salt. There are a lot of varieties of Gochujang, which are made with different types of peppers. My black garlic Gochujang sauce only takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Black Garlic Gochujang Sauce

Gochujang’s flavor comes from the fermentation process. I think it’s the most flavorful hot sauce around. It’s a blend of sweet, earthy, sour savory, and spicy flavors. This hot sauce has a strong, full-bodied flavor. You can use gochujang sauce anywhere you’d use other hot sauces. I like to put this savory, spicy sauce on rice bowls, on tofu, on fish, and in ramen.

Black Garlic Gochujang Maple Syrup Hot Sauce

Normally, to make gochujang we have to ferment it for quite a while. That is why I decided to experiment with this quick fermented version. So this is not a true Korean Gochujang recipe, but the flavor is very similar. I chose to incorporate fermented kimchi brine and apple cider vinegar for a full fermented flavor. This probably my favorite spicy fermentation project to date. I incorporated the following ingredients:

• Miso
• Maple syrup
• Gochugaru chili flakes
• Tamari
• Black Garlic (if you don’t have black garlic you can sub for fresh garlic)
• Kimchi brine
• Apple cider vinegar

Homemade Black Garlic Gochujang Sauce

With the ingredients I used in this recipe, the sauce only needs to ferment in the fridge for 48 hours. All the fermented flavor and flavor-developing microbes come from the miso paste, kimchi brine, and apple cider vinegar. So, we do not need a long fermentation process to develop the flavor.

More Spicy Recipes to Try

• Pepper Fermentation Recipe: Learn How to Ferment Any Type of Pepper
• Homemade Kimchi Inspired Spicy Sauerkraut Recipe
• Oven-Baked Marinated Chicken Wings with Kimchi and Miso Sauce

Peppers & Sauces

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Black Garlic Gochujang Maple Syrup Hot Sauce

This simple black garlic Gochujang sauce only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Try this deliciously umami black garlic gochujang maple syrup hot sauce made with miso, kimchi, maple syrup, and black garlic with any dish that needs a little heat!

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• Prep: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons Miso Paste
• 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
• 1/3 Cup Korean Chili Flakes (Gochugaru)
• 2 Tablespoons Tamari
• 1 Tablespoon Black Garlic
• 1/4 Cup Kimchi Brine
• 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

Instructions

1. In a food processor, combine all of the ingredients.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Transfer to a jar and secure the lid.
4. Allow to culture in the fridge for 48 hours, then enjoy! 

Kaitlynn Fenley Author, Educator, Food Microbiologist

Kaitlynn is a food microbiologist and fermentation expert teaching people how to ferment foods and drinks at home.

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