Garlic Gochujang Pasta
Learn how to make a delicious and creamy Garlic Gochujang Pasta with this easy-to-follow recipe. Combining the bold flavors of Korean gochujang with garlic, butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, this dish is a perfect fusion of spicy, savory, and rich comfort food. Ready in just 20 minutes, this pasta is ideal for weeknight dinners or when you're craving something new. Customize it with your favorite proteins or veggies, and enjoy a unique twist on classic pasta! Suitable for those who love Korean and Italian flavors combined.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Pasta
- 3 tbsp Butter
- Garlic: 4-6 cloves or 1 Shallot (or both) minced
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp Gochujang depending on how spicy you want it; start with 2 if you’re unsure
- 1/2 cup broth (chicken or veggie)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1/2 cup Pasta water from boiling the pasta; this helps make the sauce silky
- Parmesan cheese it’s surprisingly good on this fusion dish!
- Green onions: 2 stalks chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your spaghetti (or preferred pasta shape) according to the package instructions, until it's al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta. Set both the pasta and pasta water aside.
- In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tbsp butter over medium heat.
- Add the minced garlic (and or shallot) and sauté until fragrant and golden, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to burn!
- Once cooked, add the tomato paste and 2-3 tablespoons of gochujang to the pan and stir it into the garlic. Let it cook and darken in color, it enhances the flavor.
- Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the broth and then the heavy cream, stirring continuously to create a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Add in 2 tbsp butter, let melt and stir.
- Add the cooked pasta directly into the sauce. Toss well, ensuring that every noodle is coated in the creamy gochujang mixture.
- Gradually add some of the reserved pasta water if needed to help the sauce coat the pasta evenly.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pan and toss the pasta again. The cheese will melt into the sauce, adding a savory, nutty flavor.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed—add more gochujang for heat or more cheese for richness.
- Once everything is well-combined and heated through, turn off the heat.
- Serve the pasta on plates and garnish with chopped green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for added crunch and freshness.
- Optional: Grate extra Parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor!