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What is Gochugaru?
Gochugaru is a Korean flake-like powder derived from chile pepper. The spicy powder is typical in every Korean dish. It is commonly used to prepare dishes like Kimchi, bulgogi, and other side meals. The spice is processed traditionally, and it is entirely natural. The chile pepper is well dried on the sun and smoked to achieve the flakes. The flakes give the spice a typical flavor that blends well with the hot pepper.
Gochugaru Health Benefits
Gochugaru is not only a spice for making dishes delicious but also rich in health benefits. The chili pepper and gochugaru are rich in vitamins and crucial antioxidants for the body. Apart from the vitamins, the spice is also a good source of fiber and iron, creating red blood cells. Moreover, it is known to aid health issues like cancer of the prostate, cardiac diseases, and diabetes.
- Cancer of the prostate: according to research, the capsaicin chemical in gochugaru helps in curbing the spread of the cancer cells. It aids the cells to eliminate themselves.
- Cardiac disease: chili peppers are considered a remedy for heart attack and other heart-related illnesses. The gochugaru is responsible for dissolving fibrin in the body. Fibrin forms blood clots in the body.
- Diabetes: Gochugaru is rich in fiber. Fiber is essential in the human body in controlling blood sugar. Once you have controlled blood sugar, you lower your risks of getting diabetes disease.
Substitute for Gochugaru
There are different spices that you may use as a substitute for gochugaru. You can consider gochugaru vs. gochujang since they are closely similar. However, there are other substitutes you can go for. The substitutes include; cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, chile pasilla, and gochujang.
Gochujang
Gochujang is a spice with the same ingredients as the gochugaru spice. The chili pepper used to make the gochugaru is the same one used on gochujang. You can use gochujang instead of gochugaru. However, there is a difference that sets them apart. The gochujang is in the form of a paste and has additional ingredients of rice, salt, and soybeans. The extra ingredients make the spice salty, and the texture is in the form of a paste. Gochugaru substitute for kimchi can be a good idea, too.
Red Pepper Powder
Red pepper is a typical Indian spice. It is made from the red chili. It is a very hot spice that gives your food a pleasant taste and a nice color. It is the simplest analog for gochugaru, but not in a full sense, of course.
Guajillo Powder
Guajillo is a pepper powder with mild heat and is commonly used in Mexico to prepare the Tex-Mex delicacy. The guajillo powder is a must-have for all the chili recipes in Mexican homes. It is almost similar to gochugaru in color and heat.
- AUTHENTIC PRODUCT FROM MEXICO - Essential for authentic Mexican Cuisine 100% Natural from Mexico
- MILD TO MEDIUM HEAT- Guajillo Chile has mild heat with sweet-savory flavor great for enchiladas, salsas, mole and sauces.
- GUAJILLO POWDER is made with 100% pure Guajillo peppers. Our recipe includes NO preservatives, additives, or chemicals to ensure real freshness.
- HAND SELECTED - Guajillo Chiles hand selected and hand packed in our gourmet spice shop.
- RESEALABLE BAG - Restaurant Quality packaging for keeping chili powder fresh.
Chipotle Powder
The gochugaru spice has some smoky taste the same as the one on chipotle powder. However, the chipotle powder is made from ground jalapeno peppers and not the chili pepper.
Chile Pasilla & Chile de árbol
In comparison to other peppers, chile pasilla is closely similar to gochugaru. The only difference is that the chile pasilla is not as hot as gochugaru. While using it to prepare your dishes, you may add another spice for more heat. It is the best choice for individuals that like mild spices. Chile pasilla is, however, dark, giving the food a different color. If you want to maintain your food color, you may opt to use other peppers like paprika and espelette. You will maintain the color of your food, but the taste will be different from gochugaru.
On the other hand, the chile de arbol also has a smoky taste and maintains its color on dishes. It can substitute other spices apart from gochugaru. The spice is available in mild heat and very hot.
Aleppo & Cayenne Pepper Flakes
The Aleppo spice is common in Turkey recipes. It is spicier than gochugaru, and you need to use less of it. The spice has some sweet fruity taste, which may not be interesting to new users. The texture is also similar to gochugaru.
The cayenne pepper, which is similar to gochugaru in texture and color, is a common spice in Korean recipes. The spice is available in powder and flakes. Most of the people that like their dishes spicier use the flakes because they are spicier than the powder. Cayenne is spicier than gochugaru, and you may consider it as an alternative if you want a spicier dish.
Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika has the same color with gochugaru and a great taste. You can consider it as a perfect gochugaru replacement.
Bottom Line
If you like gochugaru for all your recipes, consider having it in a considerable amount to supplement your cooking. However, you can have a gochugaru replacement from the many available spices.
