If You Like Sriracha, You Need to Know Gochujang (2024)

FAQs

If You Like Sriracha, You Need to Know Gochujang? ›

Gochujang tends to be more savory and less spicy than sriracha, with a deeper umami flavor due to the fermented soybeans it contains. To match the heat level of sriracha, one might need to add extra gochujang or incorporate additional spices like cayenne pepper.

Meet gochujang, the savory Korean sauce that, like sriracha, is made from fermented red peppers, but has a more savory, salty, deep flavor. “It's like hot sauce-meets-umami flavor,” chef Edward Lee, owner of 610 Magnolia & Milkwood in Louisville, Kentucky, told ABC News.

While it may not have the same Korean flavor profile as gochujang, harissa paste can still provide a fiery heat to your dishes. Harissa paste tends to be spicier than gochujang, so adjust the quantity according to your tolerance level.

A texturally appropriate alternative: sambal oelek or harissa. In contrast to many popular American hot sauces that are thin in consistency, sriracha has a thick, clingy texture that makes it perfect for squiggling across the top of a poke bowl or bowl of pho.

Sure, gochujang has heat — depending on the brand, it can be extraordinarily spicy — but it also has a salty, almost meaty depth and a slight sweetness. In other words, it's not a one-note hot sauce that you add to a dish after the fact. If you want to see Korean chefs bristle, tout gochujang as the “next Sriracha.”

If you've ever tried Korean food, chances are good you've encountered gochujang, the spicy yet sweet red paste that's a staple in Korean kitchens.

It has varying degrees of heat depending on the recipe, and some can be quite hot. Compared to Sriracha, harissa is more herbal and savory, and can really add some oomph to just about anything. Mix it into plain hummus for a unique kick, or with ketchup for a spicy dip for fries or for your burgers.

Think of gochujang as similar to miso paste — a little goes a long way, but it's also very versatile. Gochujang can be used in: Marinades for meat dishes like Korean bulgogi.

What is the difference between hot sauce and sriracha? Sriracha is the same as hot sauce. Hot sauce is a generic term, used to describe a wide range of sauces that combine chilli and other ingredients to give heat. While we all have our favourite hot sauces, there is no definitive 'hot sauce'.

What is a milder version of Sriracha? ›

Yes, there are several brands and varieties of Sriracha sauce that are milder than the traditional version. Look for labels that say "mild" or "medium" heat. You could also try a different type of hot sauce, such as gochujang or harissa, which tend to be less spicy than Sriracha. Is Tabasco or Cholula sauce spicier?

The Change in Taste of the Well-loved Sriracha Sauce

Whether it was the end of its relationship with Underwood Ranches or the fact that Huy Fong Foods is now sourcing its peppers from various suppliers, the change in such a crucial ingredient meant that the taste of Huy Fong's iconic sriracha was no longer the same.

So, what does gochujang taste like? To compare it with two popular sauces that almost always comes up in the same breath, gochujang is like the love child of sriracha and miso—spicy like the former, pungent like the latter—with a hint of sweetness.

It's not spicy but it is very intense and pungent with a fermented kick.

The most authentic gochujang replacement combines miso paste and sriracha with a little pinch of sugar. If you try to just swap in another Asian sauce like sriracha or sambal oelek as a 1:1 gochujang substitute, your dish will be spicier and more acidic than intended. Hot sauces contain vinegar, and gochujang does not.

Gochujang flavor is different from Sriracha, Sambal, or any other global red chili powder-based sauces. It is unique and has its own distinct flavor. It can sure be spicy depending on the brand; it is also slightly sweet, a little salty, and has some rich meaty flavor from the fermented soybeans.

Its spiciness levels range from 1,500 to 10,000 on the Scoville Heat Scale, which is equivalent to between mild and mild-hot. That's about the same spicy level as jalapeño, poblano, lemon drop, and tabasco. Gochugaru is different from the other peppers because of its additional flavors.

Tabasco peppers are hotter on the Scoville scale than sriracha's red jalapeños — up to eight times hotter, in fact.

Sriracha is a type of hot sauce or chili sauce made from a paste of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. Its flavor is less concentrated than chili paste, but it's sweeter and tangier. When substituting for chili paste, use Sriracha sauce in a 1:1 ratio or to taste.