According to Serious Eats: “…if you’re looking for a sweeter, funkier flavor from your chiles, gochujang (pronounced go-choo-jong) is the thing for you. Gochujang is what gives Korean kimchi and tofu stews their sweet heat, bibimbap rice bowls their piquancy and rice cakes their sauce. You have to love a culture that uses chile as one of its mother sauces.
Gochujang is made from red chiles, glutinous rice* [sticky rice, gluten-free] and soy beans. It’s a little hot, a little fermented funky, and more than a little sweet. What it lacks in chile fire it makes up in rounded meaty flavors and the ripe twang of a good stinky cheese. Unlike other chile pastes, gochujang adds as much meaty edge as spice, which makes it a go-to main ingredient, not just a condiment.”
Printable Recipe
BRYANNA’S TOFU & BRUSSELS SPROUT STIR-FRY WITH KOREAN-STYLE SAUCE
Servings: 3
Cooking Sauce:
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons gochujang (spicy Korean bean paste/Korean red pepper paste)
3/4 tablespoon soy sauce
1 large clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
a few sprinkles kosher or flake salt
freshly-ground black pepper
Garnish:
crushed or ground toasted sesame seeds
Mix the Cooking Sauce ingredients together and set aside. Over high heat, add the sprout slices and garlic and stir-fry, add in squirts of water from a squeeze bottle as needed to keep the sprouts from sticking or drying out. Add about 2 tablespoon water and cover and cook for about 2 minutes, or until the sprouts are crisp-tender.
Add the Cooking Sauce, browned tofu cubes and vegan “bacon” strips and stir-fry for about 4 minutes. If it looks too dry while you are cooking it, add a few squirts of water. Be careful not to overcook the sprouts. Season with a bit of salt and some freshly-ground black pepper and serve immediately over steamed brown rice.
Sprinkle each serving with ground or crushed roasted sesame seeds, if you like.
Nutrition Facts:
Nutrition (per serving): 315.4 calories; 46{ae720e0b436026f867bfa0c31185c2252a138f27e85f5f152ec5acc1c10a8cc9} calories from fat; 17.4g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 921.8mg sodium; 893.5mg potassium; 24.0g carbohydrates; 7.4g fiber; 7.7g sugar; 16.6g net carbs; 23.6g protein.
Enjoy!
