gochujang mac and cheese

Comfort
Super easy
Hob
30
mins

You know by now that I think food is the ultimate act of self care and NOTHING says love quite like mac and cheese BUT this one is even more special. I’m using gochujang paste to spice things up a little bit for this deliciously decadent Korean-inspired pasta. To start we’re finely chopping garlic and anchovies. Dried anchovies are used a lot in Korean cooking so I’m using fresh ones to add similar depth. Next up add in a heaped tablespoon of gochujang to add spice, sweetness, salt and umami- it really is an absolute powerhouse of flavour.  Now for the other key component-cheese! I’m using two types of cheese, mozzarella for stringiness and an extra strong cheddar to compliment the bold flavour of the gochujang  Now you could leave this here and be very very happy but I highly recommend topping with panko breadcrumbs and sesame seeds for a golden crispy, crunchy nutty topping

Meals
Dinner
Season
Autumn
Winter
Dietary
Pescatarian
Nut Free
Ingredients
Pasta
Dairy

A bit about this gochujang mac and cheese recipe

Ingredients

  • 25g butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 anchovies, finely chopped
  • 1 heaped tbsp Sempio Gochujang paste
  • 3 tsp plain flour
  • 200ml whole milk
  • 100ml water
  • 100g short pasta (e.g., casarecce)
  • 35g extra mature cheddar, grated
  • 35g shredded mozzarella
  • 2-3 tbsp panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 2 spring onions, finely sliced
gochujang mac and cheese

gochujang mac and cheese - Cooking Instructions

  1. Preheat the grill to 200ºC.
  2. In an oven-proof pan (such as a 7" skillet), melt the butter over medium heat.
  3. Add the garlic and anchovies, cooking for 3-4 minutes until softened slightly but not golden.
  4. Add the gochujang and cook for another minute before adding the flour; let the flour cook for 2-3 minutes to remove any raw flour taste.
  5. Slowly add the milk, followed by the water, adding a little at a time and whisking to remove any lumps.
    • Ensure the mixture is smooth and the liquid is incorporated before adding the next splash of liquid.
  6. Add in the pasta, stirring to prevent it from sticking together, and cook on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
    • Keep the milk bubbling slightly but not boiling to avoid burning.
  7. After 15 minutes, take the pan off the heat and add both types of cheese, saving a little for the topping, and stir until melted.
  8. Sprinkle over the reserved cheese, followed by the panko breadcrumbs, and then the sesame seeds.
  9. Grill for 5 minutes or until golden brown and the sesame seeds are toasted.
  10. Top with spring onions and enjoy!
Use your leftover ingredients for..

Hate waste? Me too, so use the leftover Gochujang in this recipe and use it for something similar like the below recipe.

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