Gochugaru is a popular chilli powder originating from and most dominantly used in Korea.
You may have heard the powder better referred to in western takes on traditional Korean recipes as Korean chilli flakes or Korean hot pepper flakes. This is because gochugaru is essentially Korean chilli peppers (taeyang-cho) that have been dried in the sun and ground into a powder or flakes.
As you can tell, gochugaru is a very Korean-based chilli powder, so it can be hard to find outside of Korea. Even many Asian shops don’t always have an affordable supply.
Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives you can use if you want to try your hand at some traditional Korean recipes.
Our 3 Substitutes for Gochugaru
Though described as chilli flakes, gochugaru’s consistency is a midway between flakes and a powder. It is fine enough to be used in sauces without changing the texture.
Some gochugaru manufacturers will use mechanical methods to dry the taeyang-cho peppers. But is it only when the peppery are thoroughly dried in the sun that the gochugaru develops its signature smoky spice.
Taeyang-cho peppers are a little sweet with an overall mild heat. Hotter gochugaru varieties are available and are usually made using cheongyang chilli peppers.
Here are our top 3 substitutes for gochugaru:
1) Gochujang
Gochujang and gochugaru have similar names because gochujang is a chilli paste that uses gochugaru as its base ingredient.
Gochujang also includes other ingredients such as fermented rice or soy. This gives the paste a slight umami saltiness that gochugaru lacks while still remaining spicy and sweet.
Though you can use gochujang as an instant substitution for gochugaru in your meals, it may change the texture and consistency of your dish.
As it is a paste, gochujang will work great in stews, sauces and marinades. But it will need to be melted into the dish or mixed in with some stock.
Know When to Use It
Due to the extra savoury ingredients used in gochujang paste, it is best used to balance out overly sweet dishes or savoury-leaning meals.
2) Chipotle Powder
Gochugaru has roots on the other side of the world to chipotle powder, which means that chipotle powder is far more accessible in the west.
The main ingredient in chipotle powder is – unsurprisingly – chipotle peppers. This is the name given to ripe jalapeño peppers once they have been dried and smoked.
Other spices and herbs (such as salt and garlic powder) are often added to the chipotle powder to make the powder a chilli blend. But the predominant flavour of the blend is the smokey heat of the chipotle peppers.
Can You Use Regular Chipotle Peppers?
To stop the extra ingredients in chipotle powder from changing the taste of your dish, you can use plain chipotle peppers and grind them into a powder yourself. If you can find any, that is.
3) Cayenne Pepper Flakes
It is easy to find cayenne pepper flakes in most local supermarkets if you do not already have some stocked up in your pantry.
Despite cayenne pepper not originating in Korea, it is used just as often as gochugaru in Korean cuisine.
You will not have to worry about the substitute ruining your dish’s overall flavour or taking away from the Korean-inspired taste.
In terms of texture, cayenne pepper flakes are similar to gochugaru, just a little bigger and thicker. This also means that cayenne pepper flakes are noticeably hotter than gochugaru. So, you will need to use less than you typically would.
Can You Use Cayenne Pepper Powder?
Yes, cayenne pepper powder can work in place of cayenne pepper flakes. But the powder will be finer than the consistency. You will need to add more for the same heat.
Other Substitutes for Gochugaru
Depending on the kind of cuisine you prefer to cook on a regular basis, you may not have the above substitutes immediately in your pantry. To save yourself a trip to the supermarket, here are a few commonly used substitutes for gochugaru that you may already have to hand:
- Chile de Arbol – In most cases, chile de Arbol will be used to replace chipotle powder, making it acceptable to use as a gochugaru substitute. It is noticeably hotter than gochugaru, so only use it if you prefer the spicier gochugaru varieties.
- Chilli Flakes – When you want to quickly add some heat to your dish, you can use regular chilli flakes. The flakes will lack the smoky and sweet taste of gochugaru, but it is an easily accessible substitute.
- Chilli Powder – You can use standard, supermarket-branded chilli powder to replace gochugaru. Though it will be a finer consistency and will lack the same burst of flavour.
Summary
Despite gochugaru being challenging to track down in the UK, the chilli powder is interchangeable with many western chilli powders, spice mixes and chilli pastes.
The best is gochujang because it uses gochugaru as its base ingredient. Though it has a more complicated taste because of its additional ingredients.