Gochujang Potato Stew Recipe (2024)

By Eric Kim

Updated Oct. 12, 2023

Gochujang Potato Stew Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Rating
5(3,938)
Notes
Read community notes

Plush baby potatoes braised in an aromatic gochujang broth form the heart of this satisfying, vegetable-packed stew. The spice-timid can lower the amount of gochujang, the Korean red-pepper paste, and heat seekers should feel free to add more to taste at the end. Canned white beans and dark-green Tuscan kale (also called lacinato or dinosaur kale), stewed with soy sauce and honey, create a deeply savory flavor that is reminiscent of South Korean gochujang jjigae, a camping favorite starring pantry staples, and dakdori tang, a gochujang-based chicken and potato stew.

Featured in: Gochujang Is So Much More Than a Condiment

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
  • 1large red onion, coarsely chopped
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 5large garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
  • 3tablespoons gochujang, plus more to taste
  • 3cups vegetable broth
  • 2tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1teaspoon honey or dark brown sugar
  • 1pound baby gold or fingerling potatoes, large ones halved
  • 1(15-ounce) can cannellini or butter beans, rinsed
  • 1large bunch Tuscan kale, stems and leaves chopped (6 packed cups)
  • Cooked white rice, for serving
  • Sour cream and chopped flat-leaf parsley (both optional), for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

388 calories; 9 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 65 grams carbohydrates; 11 grams dietary fiber; 6 grams sugars; 15 grams protein; 1248 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Gochujang Potato Stew Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high. Melt the butter and add the onion. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and gochujang, and stir until heated through and fragrant, just a few seconds.

  2. Stir in the vegetable broth, soy sauce, honey, potatoes and beans. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high, then reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle boil. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, then add the kale. (It will seem like a lot at first but will wilt down considerably.) Tamping down the kale, continue gently boiling the covered stew, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and the broth is thickened to your liking, 10 to 20 minutes. Taste the broth and add more salt, pepper and gochujang as desired.

  3. Step

    3

    Serve the stew alongside white rice and, for coolness against the heat, top with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of parsley, if using.

Ratings

5

out of 5

3,938

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

David

Terrific but salty. Recipe calls for two rounds of seasoning, plus soy sauce and the sodium in broth, beans, and gochujang. I'll definitely make again but will look for ways to cut down on the saltiness.

Rachel

I accidentally poisoned my boyfriend because I didn’t know gochujang contains gluten so we spent four hours in the ER after eating this, but long story short check for gluten free gochujang and this stew slaps

Jessica

I made this in the pressure cooker! Left out the honey/dark brown sugar. Used saute function for onions and garlic, then added gochujang and soy sauce. Sauteed that all together for a minute or two. Then added potatoes and vegetable broth and pressure cooked for 12 minutes. Used saute function once again after pressure release and added canned beans, kale, and mushrooms (per other comments). Quick to make, delicious, warming, and hearty! Will be making again.

Poppy

I used frozen spinach instead of kale and it turned out great.

John

Fellow cooks, be aware that gochujang comes in two degrees of heat: Hot, and Mild. I would start with Mild b/c that way yiu can add the full amount and get the flavor without it being possibly too much heat. “Using less” to me just means I could end up with something too hot to enjoy and would have to toss it and make it again using less gochujang. A waste of my time and effort. Why not start mild and if I want more heat after tasting I add either hot gochujang, sriracha, or other hot sauce.

Boykin

This is so easy and delicious. I made it because I had the ingredients and Eric Kim never disappoints. (Really, never.) Yes, make the rice and add the sour cream.

Paul

My wife and I love spicy food but found this to be far too hot for our taste. Perhaps it was the brand of Gochujang we purchased.I even double-checked the recipe after I tasted it.I think a warning or a range (1-3 T., for example) would be a good idea.

Levi P

Add mushrooms and radishes (not too early) for a little interest!

doc

This was a delicious, hearty stew with a kick. Easy once everything is chopped. Added mushrooms. I’d reduce some greens next time or add more liquid since much of it was absorbed by the time everything cooked down. Potatoes took longer than directed (30 mins) to fully cook. Thumbs up. Would make again.

Ellen L

My son did the cooking, so I don’t have full knowledge of alterations. We had cooked chickpeas on hand that were subbed. And the market he went to didn’t have the desired potatoes, so he cut red skinned potatoes into chunks. I had a container of baby kale, so we used that for the greens. We didn’t measure, but I would have added more than the couple of handfuls. Our guochugang came from Trader Joe’s and was not too spicy. It was delicious and satisfying. I plan to make it for vegetarian friends.

hillary

Made as written and it was tasty and satisfying but I think it could use a touch of acid. Next time I’ll throw some lemon juice in at the end. I will definitely make this again.

Mx.Sofie

Made a version of this with slow cooker'erd Rancho Gordo beans, instead of canned. Stellar. I added a drizzle of honey, lemon, 1oz feta & maldon salt flakes as a topper, (no rice) I ate with a slice of toasted country bread from Tartine (in SF) and slathered in Straus salted butter. dynamite!

Beachwriter

When I saw the ingredient list, I indulged in that smug feeling of having ALL the ingredients on hand, including the gochujang and those cute little pearl potatoes in different colors. On a rainy, miserable Sunday morning, we made a 1/2 recipe for just the two of us and served it with a poached egg on top. I skipped the parsley because it was too cold and wet outside to go snip it from the garden. Although comforting, the dish isn't exactly bursting with flavor, but it was simple to fix.

Charlene

This was so easy and so good. I didn't have any kale, only spinach, so I threw it in at the end, and it tasted great. Thanks, Eric, for another interesting recipe.

Urs B

So easy and tasty. Added a side of cucumber salad, which was a great contrast to this hearty, spicy, and umami dish.

Elisa H

Don't fully understand the rave reviews. I made this and the flavour profile seemed very flat. In a last minute desperate attempt to lift it I added some passata and ground up some smoked peppercorns - slight improvement but not really enough to merit making again. Maybe the issue is my gochujang brand. I live in Spain so don't have access to a great selection. Any ideas?

Rose M

Excellent flavor! I added chicken thighs and cooked it in InstantPot for 14 minutes.

Joan

So glad I read previous notes about the heat of the gochuchang. Cut it back to 2 tbsp and it was perfect. Very tasty meal

Another Hearty Keeper

This works so well. Sweet, salty, spicy, earthy, bitter. I've made it twice now, as written, with a lot less salt, thanks to some reviews here. This one will stay in the rotation.

Sarah

We found this easy to make on a week night and delicious. It’s also an easily adaptable recipe so next time I think I will add some enoki or oyster mushrooms. Tastes even better the next day. The sour cream and parsley as a worthy addition. My partner found the amount of gochujang in the recipe a bit too spicy, whereas I added extra to my portions because I love heat.

em b

this is the best thing I’ve made in a while after a string of failed recipes, and it reminded me why I like cooking. no notes! already planning to make it again this weekend.

Logan

I’ve made many variations, each delicious. I prefer to use less potato and sub carrot to add sweetness. I’ve also used chickpeas when that’s all I had on hand.

JessT

This was sensational! Easily the best thing I’ve made this year.

BFF

Made this again since it’s become a family favorite. Followed exactly as written. TJs has pre-packaged chopped and washed kale. I dumped the whole bag and it was the right amount. This time saving trick makes this recipe a weeknight meal as the only thing left to chop is the onion, and roughly. I recommend cooking the soup for the full 20 min, which allows all the flavors to meld together. Don’t skip on the sour cream!

john

Go easy on gochujang no more than 1.5 Tbsp

Susan Bass

Delicious, but super hot. I will step back the gochujang. I was out of sour cream, but I had some crème frache which was fabulous on top.

matt

this soup turned it

CConcordia

We like mildly spicy food, so I used 1 Tablespoon of gochujang. I had a few mushrooms that needed to be used, so I added them near the end of cooking time. Other than that, followed the recipe as written. Delicious! Love the aroma and taste. Will definitely make this again and soon.

Ali

Holy hell was this delicious! Didn't change a thing and won't next time either! The sour cream and parsley are the perfect finishing touches and while I was skeptical about the potential for rice/potato starch overload, the rice is perfect for sopping up the scrumptious sauce. A keeper!!

Mandie P.

I cooked this w/o the beans; my children would not have eaten it. Also, we added 1/3 more of the ingredients to make for more volume and use an entire “box” of vegetable broth. I wish I had made more! It was a BIG hit! You can’t have enough broth! I could have added another “box” of broth & then equal amounts Gochujang to have had ample enough for the ‘left overs’. We had chicken pot stickers on the side for protein. :-) This one’s a KEEPER!

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Gochujang Potato Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to use gochujang? ›

Try it as a baste on chicken wings or pork ribs, or added to soup broths like in my Spicy Pork Miso Noodle Soup. Gochujang can also be used in marinades for meat dishes like Korean bulgogi, stirred into dipping sauces, or used to punch up stews.

Do you have to cook gochujang before eating? ›

Although it is rarely, if ever, used as a finishing sauce, gochujang can be used straight from the tub. In fact, many Koreans will eat it as is as an accompaniment to raw vegetables (like crudité) and dried anchovies.

Is gochujang paste healthy? ›

Results showed that gochujang improved glucose homeostasis by reducing insulin resistance. Glucose homeostasis is the balance of glucagon and insulin that maintains blood glucose levels. More studies have also linked capsaicin to anticancer, antiobesity, antidiabetic, and pain- and itch-relieving effects.

Is gochujang really spicy? ›

The cool thing about gochujang is it's not spice-your-face-off spicy. It's more of a subtle spice because it's balanced with other flavors. Plus, you can control the spice level when you make your own! So even if you're typically averse to spicy food, give this one a try!

Do you refrigerate gochujang after opening? ›

How to Store Gochujang. Once opened, gochujang should be stored in the refrigerator. Like miso, it has quite a long shelf life, as long as it hasn't dried out or changed in color. Should you find yourself with a lot of gochujang leftover, remember that it can be used up in lots of different ways.

What's the difference between gochujang paste and Gochujang sauce? ›

In its truest form, gochujang is sold as a thick paste, often in plastic tubs and glass jars, and ready for cooking. The kind labeled a sauce or condiment is the same paste, thinned out with other ingredients such as sugar and vinegar.

Can gochujang go bad? ›

While typically boasting a long shelf life, it is understandable that consumers may be concerned about using expired gochujang. Fortunately, due to its ingredients and fermentation process, gochujang can remain safe to use even after its best before date, provided it has been stored correctly.

Is gochujang a probiotic? ›

As probiotics, fermented foods have various beneficial effects to health by maintaining gut health and by recovering disease-related gut microbiota dysbiosis [9]. Gochujang, a Korean traditional fermented food (KTFF), contains multiple microbiota, such as Bacillus (B.) amyloliquefaciens, B. licheniformis, and B.

Do you need to dilute gochujang? ›

Gochujang paste and sauce

The most important thing to know about gochujang is that it's a thick, powerful-tasting paste when you scoop it out of the tub. This is the form you'd use to cook it into meals. It only becomes a sauce when you dilute it with a few other ingredients.

Is gochujang anti-inflammatory? ›

In conclusion, the intake of Gochujang demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory effects, mitigating colitis by preventing the large intestine length reduction of animals with colitis, lowering serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines, and inhibiting histological disruption and inflammatory mechanism phosphorylation.

Is gochujang good for blood pressure? ›

This study demonstrates that Gochujang has anti-hypertensive effects regardless of its high salt content and provide the evidence regarding the distinct impacts between salt in Gochujang and the table salt.

What are the side effects of gochujang sauce? ›

Risks and Side Effects

You should avoid gochujang if you are allergic or have a sensitivity to any of its ingredients. If you experience any symptoms like hives, itching or swelling after consumption, discontinue use immediately and consult with your doctor. The amount of capsaicin present is generally safe to consume.

Is sriracha hotter than gochujang? ›

It's like sriracha but has a deeper flavor profile with less vinegar and more sweetness. Gochujang is also less spicy than sriracha, so if you like sweet-spicy combinations then gochujang will be the perfect addition to your kitchen pantry.

Why does my gochujang taste weird? ›

The process of making gochujang is quite involved but gives this condiment its distinct taste. The ingredients are mixed and then left to ferment for 60 to 90 days or longer, allowing the flavors to develop and mellow. This fermentation process also gives gochujang its thick and sticky consistency.

What to put gochujang on? ›

16 Recipes That Get a Spicy-Sweet Kick From Gochujang
  1. Bossam (Korean Boiled-Pork Wraps) ...
  2. Homestyle Bibimbap. ...
  3. Ssamjang (Korean Barbecue Dipping Sauce) ...
  4. Kimchi-Brined Fried Chicken Sandwich. ...
  5. Stir-Fried Anchovy Banchan (Myeolchi Bokkeum) ...
  6. Grilled Korean Bulgogi Burgers With Kimchi Mayo and Pickled Daikon.

Can you use gochujang by itself? ›

On its own, gochujang is quite pungent, so it's usually mixed with other ingredients to balance its intensity.

Does gochujang go bad? ›

While typically boasting a long shelf life, it is understandable that consumers may be concerned about using expired gochujang. Fortunately, due to its ingredients and fermentation process, gochujang can remain safe to use even after its best before date, provided it has been stored correctly.

Do you dilute gochujang? ›

Gochujang is recommended by Taste of Home for people looking to add some heat to their food, but they also caution that because the Korean paste has such a concentrated flavor that it is often mixed with liquid to dilute the spiciness.

Can I put gochujang in ramen? ›

You can add spicy ingredients like Gochujang paste, red pepper/chili flakes, or hot sauce, and then mix it into your cooked noodles for a fiery kick. Just be aware of how it might change the texture of your ramen noodles. For instance, red pepper flakes or chilli powder won't usually change the textures of dishes.

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