Gochujang
| Gochujang | |
 A jar of gochujang | |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 고추장 |
| Hanja | 苦椒醬 |
| Revised Romanization | gochujang |
| McCune–Reischauer | koch'ujang |
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| This article is part of a series on |
| Korean cuisine 한국 요리 조선 료리 |
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.svg.png){kind=small} Korea portal |
Gochujang[1] (Korean: 고추장, IPA: [kotɕʰudʑaŋ] Koryo-mar:кочхицай/кочхидян (regional)) is a savory, spicy, and pungent fermented Korean condiment made from red chili, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. Traditionally, it has been naturally fermented over years in large earthen pots outdoors, more often on an elevated stone platform, called jangdokdae (장독대) in the backyard.
Its HS code is 2103.90.1030.
History
Gochujang (hot pepper paste) is believed to have been first used in Korea in the late 18th century, after 16th-century trade with Europe, Japan, China, and the Ryukyu Islands introduced chili peppers and fermented soy paste to the region.[2][3] According to the Jungbo Sallim gyeongje (증보산림경제, 1765), gochujang was made by adding powdered red chili peppers and glutinous rice powder to soybean paste and aging this paste under the sun. This recipe is similar to the recipe used today to make gochujang.[4][5]
Sunchang County is famous for their gochujang.[6]
Gochujang is strongly rooted in traditional daily life in Korea. Both commoners and nobles used gochujang as an indispensable source of food and nutrition. China and Japan, the countries with which Korea has historically shared the most culture and trade, do not include gochujang in their traditional cuisines. However, the first known record of Gochujang is in a Chinese document called Siknyo-chanyo (食醫心鑒), and appears as Chojang (椒醬). The record explains that people in ancient Korea commonly ate Gochujang with boiled chickens, Doenjang, green onion, and ginger, and that they believed it to be highly nutritious. Similar content was found in several other historical documents in China, such as a tenth-century document called Sasi-chanyo (四時纂要). Additionally, a book from the late 14th century, Siknyo-chanyo (食療瓚要), explained that people who had a weak stomach or symptoms of a stroke would often eat gochujang or chicken braised with gochujang to combat symptoms. Hangyank, Korean traditional medicine (鄕藥), recommends eating soup made with Gochujang to treat weakened stomachs. [7]
Ingredients
Gochujang's primary ingredients are red chili powder, glutinous rice powder mixed with powdered fermented soybeans, and salt. Major substitutes for the main ingredient, glutinous rice (chapssal, Korean: 찹쌀), include normal short-grain rice (mepssal, Korean: 멥쌀), barley, and, less frequently, whole wheat kernels, jujubes, pumpkin, and sweet potato; these ingredients are used to make special variations. A small amount of sweetener, such as sugar, syrup, or honey, is also sometimes added. The finished product is a dark, reddish paste with a rich, piquant flavor.
The making of gochujang at home began tapering off when commercial production came into the mass market in the early 1970s. Now, most Koreans purchase gochujang at grocery stores or markets. It is still used extensively in Korean cooking to flavor stews (jjigae), such as gochujang jjigae; marinate meat, such as gochujang bulgogi; and as a condiment for naengmyeon and bibimbap.
Gochujang is also used as a base for making other condiments, such as chogochujang (Korean: 초고추장) and ssamjang (Korean: 쌈장). Chogochujang is a variant of gochujang made from gochujang with added vinegar and other seasonings, such as sugar and sesame seeds. It is usually used as a sauce for hoe and hoedeopbap. Similarly, ssamjang is a mixture of mainly gochujang and doenjang, with chopped onions and other spicy seasonings, and is popular with sangchussam (Korean: 상추쌈), which is a lettuce wrap of grilled meat, sliced garlic, green chili peppers. and other vegetables.
Nutrition and health
Gochujang has traditionally been one of the three indispensable household condiments, along with doenjang and ganjang. Gochujang contains a number of vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, and carotene.[8] Improvement in science and technology explained the fact that Gochujang has some benefits to people’s health, such as preventing obesity and diabetes. . Either way eating Gochujang as dipping-sauce or cooked with vegetable and meat, it scientifically resulted in having a positive health effects on people’s bodies. . Historical study records also stated the fact that a red pepper, that is a major ingredient of Gochujang, has a special effect reducing a risk of obesity and diabetes. Therefore, Gochujang is today emphasized not only as seasoning but also as a nutritional supplement. [9] Numerical results indicated the effects of Gochujang in decreasing visceral fat and improving blood lipid profiles in overweight adults. [10] There are 40 calories in 1 tbsp (19 g) of Gochujang, and it contains 450mg of sodium, 9g of carbohydrates, 1g of dietary fiber, 9g of sugars, and 1g of protein. There are 4% of vitamin A, and 6% of calcium. [11]
Use
Gochujang is used in various dishes like bibimbap and tteokbokki, also in salads, stews, soups and marinated meat dishes.[12] Gochujang makes dishes spicier (contributed by the capsaicins from the chili), but also somewhat sweeter.
See also
References
- ↑ Gochujang is also romanized as gochoojang, gochuzang, gochoozang, or simply "hot bean paste".
- ↑ William Shurtleff, Akiko Aoyagi. History of Fermented Tofu - A Healthy Nondairy / Vegan Cheese (1610-2011). Soyinfo Center. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
- ↑ Quantum leap of kimchi
- ↑ Common Gochujang Recipe
- ↑ 고추장 (in Korean). EncyKorea. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
- ↑ "Sunchang Gochujang Village (순창전통고추장마을)". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ↑ Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste): A Korean ethnic sauce, its role and history.
- ↑ Korean Food and Health - Korean Hot Pepper Paste
- ↑ Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste): A Korean ethnic sauce, its role and history.
- ↑ Kochujang, fermented soybean-based red pepper paste, decreases visceral fat and improves blood lipid profiles in overweight adults.
- ↑ Calories in Hot Pepper Paste.
- ↑ "Gochujang (Hot Pepper Paste)". visitkorea.org. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
