Gochujang Pork

This post is a perfect example of why I love food blogging. There are many reasons, actually, like the friends I’ve made – some even in person! But learning about ingredients and foods from different cuisines is really exciting to me.

Gochujang is one such ingredient, a sweet Korean chili paste that I’ve noticed for a while. Thanks to Amazon.com, I now own some.

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I was reminded of this ingredient recently on Sally’s blog Bewitching Kitchen, when she posted Korean pork ribs, and on The Not So Creative Cook, when Jhuls posted Steak with Gochujang Sauce, and on A Cookbook Collection, when Donna posted Korean Chicken Wings. I knew I had to make something!

To test out the paste, I created a sauce using gochujang and a few other Korean ingredients. A wonderful reference for Korean ingredients can be found here, from Sue’s blog My Korean Kitchen.

I didn’t add anything sweet, because the first ingredient in the list of the gochujang is corn syrup. This is unfortunate, but when I looked in to making my own, I decided to pass on that complicated culinary endeavor.

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Here’s what I did:

Gochujang Pork Tenderloins

2″ piece for fresh, peeled ginger
2 large cloves garlic
2 teaspoons sesame seed oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup gochujang
4-5 tablespoons mirin
2 pork tenderloins
Salt
Pepper

Place the ginger, garlic, sesame seed oil, and soy sauce in a small blender jar or mini food processor, and process as much as you can.

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Add the gochujang. It’s so pretty and has a wonderful spicy ketchup aroma. I wasn’t sure what it’s viscosity would be, but it’s quite paste-like.

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To create my desired sauce consistency, I used about 5 tablespoons of mirin. I wanted the sauce pourable, but not thin.

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Have a baking pan big enough for the pork tenderloins on hand and drizzle in some oil.

Season the pork tenderloins.

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Spread some of the sauce on top of the tenderloins. Turn them over and place them in the oil.

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Spread more of the sauce on the top. Make sure you still have enough for serving time. Cover the pan with foil and let the tenderloins marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

When you are ready to cook the pork, remove the pan from the refrigerator and let the meat come close to room temperature. I set my oven at a roasting temperature of 375. One could certainly also use a charcoal grill, weather permitting.

Use an in-oven temperature probe to monitor the pork. I prefer an internal temperature of NO MORE than 155 degrees Farenheit.

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After cooking the pork tenderloins, immediately place them on a cutting board. After a good 15-minute rest, slice the pork cross-wise.

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Place the slices on a serving platter. Brush on some of the remaining gochujang sauce.

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If desired, sprinkle the meat with sesame seeds, cilantro, or chopped green onions.

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This sauce is so good I’ve made a gochujang-based BBQ sauce twice since I made this tenderloin recipe. Gochujang is fabulous stuff!

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By Published On: March 14th, 201760 Comments on Gochujang Pork

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

60 Comments

  1. Jhuls March 14, 2017 at 7:09 AM - Reply

    I couldn’t use mirin so I skipped on that one. Your version sounds delicious and I love the plating. ;) Thanks a lot for the mention, Chef Mimi. x

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 7:14 AM - Reply

      You’re so welcome. Thanks for the inspiration!

  2. sallybr March 14, 2017 at 7:10 AM - Reply

    Wow, what a wonderful surprise to find this post to brighten up my morning, as I’m getting ready to leave for work… Doing a happy dance!

    I love this ingredient, it’s really unique, and I must try your concoction!

    great post!!! and thanks for the link love!

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 7:14 AM - Reply

      Sure! Your sticky ribs made an impression on me! I’m going to have to load up on more gochujang!

  3. Kiki March 14, 2017 at 8:50 AM - Reply

    Looks really good! I recently visited a big Asian supermarket in our area but was overwhelmed so bought very little. Next time I go I’ll look for Gochujang sauce!

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 9:13 AM - Reply

      It is overwhelming, isn’t it?!!! Plus you can’t read what anything is!!!

  4. A Cookbook Collection March 14, 2017 at 9:37 AM - Reply

    Your pork looks delicious, I’m so glad you like it Mimi! And thank you for the link :-) I have made that sauce so often and use it for everything, even just to coat stir fried veggies. The gochujang has suck a complex flavour it’s impossible to describe, so I just tell everyone they have to try it for themselves!

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 9:39 AM - Reply

      It is definitely unique. I wish it wasn’t so sweet, but sugar is such a significant in so many Asian cuisines that I just have to get over that!

      • A Cookbook Collection March 14, 2017 at 10:12 AM

        Yes I agree, and so many recipes using it also have ketchup added to the sauce. Far too sweet for my liking. Although I do use some brown sugar with it to help it to caramelise. I never realised there was corn syrup in it though, I need to pay more attention to the ingredients

      • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 11:55 AM

        Well maybe that was just the brand I bought.

  5. gypsygurl64 March 14, 2017 at 9:52 AM - Reply

    I think one of the perks of my former military life was being able to learn new cuisine from other cultures. When we were stationed in Germany, not only did I learn how to cook a number of German dishes, but also learned how to cook wonderful Pilipino dishes from someone that became a good friend! I am fortunate that being from Louisiana, we have lots of regional dishes that came from other cultures and we still cook today!

    • chef mimi March 18, 2017 at 7:23 AM - Reply

      You are very lucky! German ingredients are so fantastic and the blends of cultures in Creole/Acadian cuisine is incredible. What fun!

  6. chefkreso March 14, 2017 at 9:55 AM - Reply

    Amazing recipe!

  7. Linda Duffin March 14, 2017 at 10:54 AM - Reply

    Looks fab. Mimi. Gochujang has such a fabulous flavour. I generally use it on sticky barbecued ribs (and of course in some Korean recipes) but I’ve never tried it with pork fillet. Good idea! L

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 11:56 AM - Reply

      Sort of the same thing, right? Unless you’re talking beef ribs… I think I could slather the sauce on just about anything!

      • Linda Duffin March 14, 2017 at 12:11 PM

        No, I’ve done pork ribs tho’ now you mention it …

  8. Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef March 14, 2017 at 12:11 PM - Reply

    Your exactly right Mimi, I love blogging for the same reason. I have never heard of this spice mixture but I will look for it in the grocery store.

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 2:24 PM - Reply

      It’s definitely a Korean ingredient. You should be able to find it easily where you live!

  9. Elaine @ foodbod March 14, 2017 at 12:27 PM - Reply

    I also bought gochujang because of seeing several of our blog pals waxing lyrical about it! I can’t get past the texture though :(

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 2:23 PM - Reply

      Oh really? Have you tried thinning it?

      • Elaine @ foodbod March 15, 2017 at 1:59 AM

        No, I haven’t done anything else with it to be honest, all that corn syrup and sugar…:(

      • chef mimi March 15, 2017 at 6:44 AM

        I know, it’s off putting. That’s why it’s hard for me to folllow Thai recipes – I just can’t use all of that sugar!

      • Elaine @ foodbod March 15, 2017 at 9:25 AM

        Snap!

  10. Jess March 14, 2017 at 12:33 PM - Reply

    I’ve wanted to experiment with gochujang for a while. It seems like such a cool ingredient. This dish look delicious :-)

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 2:22 PM - Reply

      It’s very cool – really unique! And versatile!

  11. Francesca March 14, 2017 at 3:38 PM - Reply

    I might pass this recipe on to my son as he loves meat done this way. I am vegetarian but always happy to admire a good recipe like this one Mimi.

  12. Paul Palop March 14, 2017 at 3:50 PM - Reply

    never used this ingredient but you got me thinking! Beautiful photos Mimi. Thanks for sharing!

    • chef mimi March 14, 2017 at 5:34 PM - Reply

      It’s definitely pretty stuff, and tasty!!!

  13. anotherfoodieblogger March 14, 2017 at 7:07 PM - Reply

    I’m going to have to buy some of that gochujang, this looks amazing Mimi!

    • chef mimi March 15, 2017 at 6:47 AM - Reply

      I never tasted it by itself, but once the garlic and ginger were in there, along with the soy sauce, it was just magical stuff that I could have spread on just about anything!

  14. Marta March 15, 2017 at 12:29 AM - Reply

    It’s so nice to learn about gochujang, I was not familiar with it before :)

    • chef mimi March 15, 2017 at 6:46 AM - Reply

      That’s why food blogging is so wonderful and education!

  15. ebayman20s March 15, 2017 at 2:19 AM - Reply

    thanks for the recipe, looks amazing!

    • chef mimi March 15, 2017 at 6:43 AM - Reply

      You are so welcome! So sauce would be good with any grilled meat!

  16. Lisa @ cheergerm March 15, 2017 at 6:15 AM - Reply

    I use a similar Korean chlli paste/sauce but I don’t think it has corn syrup in, will have to go and check. This looks mouth watering Mimi. I love Asian supermarkets and can happily get lost in them for ages.

    • chef mimi March 15, 2017 at 6:43 AM - Reply

      I unfortunately don’t have one near me, but that goodness for some good online sources!

  17. dishinwithdidi March 15, 2017 at 6:55 AM - Reply

    Well you just made me drool and it’s not even 8am, lol Mimi this looks amazing!! Now one more sauce I will definitely be purchasing! Thank you my friend! ♥

    • chef mimi March 15, 2017 at 7:27 AM - Reply

      Thanks Didi! Drooling is definitely a side effect from food blogging!

  18. Cocoa & Lavender March 15, 2017 at 8:29 AM - Reply

    Gochujang paste has come up a lot lately – maybe I need to head to Amazon to buy some, too! Your pork looks delicious.

    • chef mimi March 18, 2017 at 7:24 AM - Reply

      Definitely! It’s a lovely and unique flavor and the paste really lends itself to BBQ-type sauces!

  19. Our Growing Paynes March 16, 2017 at 9:12 AM - Reply

    The photos are beautiful. I love learning about new ingredients as well. So much fun.

  20. Michelle March 16, 2017 at 10:48 PM - Reply

    One of my favorite ingredients.

  21. David Crichton March 17, 2017 at 5:52 AM - Reply

    Very true, Mimi. If you hadn’t blogged about this, I’d be none the wiser. Looks delicious. Although I share your concerns about corn syrup! Do you know how bad this stuff is for us?

    • chef mimi March 17, 2017 at 2:27 PM - Reply

      Corn syrup/high fructose corn syrup – it’s all bad in my book.

      • David Crichton March 17, 2017 at 3:47 PM

        It is all bad, but our bodies don’t process fructose like all the other -ose’s. Only the liver can process it. It is essentially filtered like alcohol. The small amount in fruit is fine, but when you start consuming huge quantities from sort drinks and alike. It leads to fatty liver disease.

  22. David Crichton March 17, 2017 at 5:54 AM - Reply

    I take that back, it’s the high fructose corn syrup which is really bad for us.

  23. Frank Fariello March 18, 2017 at 9:00 AM - Reply

    How doesn’t this look yummy! I’ve never heard of gochujang, but now I want to try it—corn syrup notwithstanding… I wonder if there are versions without it?

    • chef mimi March 18, 2017 at 1:37 PM - Reply

      I seriously doubt it. So any Asian cuisines like Thai and obviously Korean use so ugh sugar in their recipes. That’s ny experience at least

  24. Karen March 18, 2017 at 10:49 AM - Reply

    Your pork looks wonderful Mimi. I have gochujang in my refrigerator and I got it out to look at the ingredients. Mine is Annie Chun’s and it is a sauce. There is no corn syrup, it is made from a paste sweetened with brown sugar. While a little sweet, it is not overly so. Perhaps you can find it at your local grocery store.

    • chef mimi March 18, 2017 at 1:38 PM - Reply

      So good to know! I will have to check out the ingredient list in the future

  25. margaret21 March 22, 2017 at 2:50 AM - Reply

    I too recently acquired some of this wonderful paste. I’m looking forward to trying to recreate this and other great dishes we ate in South Korea.

    • chef mimi March 22, 2017 at 5:15 PM - Reply

      That must have been a wonderful trip!

      • margaret21 March 23, 2017 at 2:41 AM

        It really was. Such a great destination and so much to enjoy.

  26. FrugalHausfrau April 12, 2017 at 8:56 PM - Reply

    What a gorgeous and creative recipe, Mimi!

    • chef mimi April 12, 2017 at 9:07 PM - Reply

      Thank you – it’s really a great paste!

  27. mamabatesmotel September 25, 2017 at 7:48 PM - Reply

    Reblogged this on mamabatesmotel.

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