This fall, Mother-in-Law’s is encouraging consumers to use gochujang sauces and pastes as a way to add bold, spicy umami (full bodied, savory) flavors to their traditional Thanksgiving dinner table. In Korean, “Go-chu” translates to chile and “Jang” means, fermented sauce. Gochujang is a pantry staple in Korea made by mixing fermented soybeans, red chile pepper, rice flour, malt and salt. The unique fermentation process creates an unparalleled and complex flavor profile complete with a spicy, smoky umami finish that lingers on the palate. Its heat level is moderate enough for many to enjoy on just about everything. Koreans consume so much gochujang that it is often coined as Korea’s ketchup.
The following suggested recipes are innovative renditions of traditional Thanksgiving sides and main dishes -
Gochujang Cranberry Sauce
Our original concentrated paste, made using time honored traditional methods, has a unique thick consistency and moderate spice that adds peppery and savory notes to the sweet, tangy flavor profile of traditional cranberry sauce. Mix in about 2-3 tbsp. of gochujang paste while preparing the cranberry sauce on the stove top. For an extra kick, garnish with fresh jalapeño peppers.
Gochujang Glaze for Roasted Vegetables and Meat
Our garlic gochujang sauce is complex with a nuanced garlic and ginger flavor that is delicious in marinades for meat and seafood or sauteed vegetables. Use as a Thanksgiving glaze for ham, turkey, chicken or salmon. Garlic gochujang glazed pancetta pairs deliciously with sauteed Brussels sprouts. For a vegetarian option, sauteed green beans and garlic gochujang mashed potatoes are all-time favorite recipes. The ginger notes in this sauce will add a delicious, unique flavor profile to these common Thanksgiving dishes.
Our tangy gochujang sauce brings together sweet, zesty and piquant flavors. When combined with maple syrup (or honey) and apple cider vinegar it makes the perfect accompaniment for butternut squash (or sweet potatoes). Coat the butternut squash and/or sweet potatoes with this decadent gochujang glaze before roasting, sauteing or baking. Top the dish off with pumpkin or sesame seeds.
Garlic Gochujang Mashed Potatoes
Add our garlic gochujang sauce to your mashed potatoes to give a traditional recipe a kick! The ginger notes in the sauce will add delicious, unique flavors to a common Thanksgiving side dish.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Mother-in-Law's team. We are so thankful for all of our amazing customers!
We hope you will enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and loved ones. Don't forget to tag us in your favorite Thanksgiving recipes.