Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Gochujang

Analysing hundreds of thousands of recipes uncovers gochujang's optimal flavour pairings.

Gochujang is marked by the flavours of chilli and bell pepper, yet its initial umaminess is only the opening note. Beneath lies a tapestry of delicate garlic, whispers of molasses, and the savoury aroma of koji that contribute remarkable depth. And the gastronomic enchantment begins when we seek out pairings that allow these notes to truly sing, to harmonise in unexpected and delightful ways.

To map these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, breaking each one down across 150 flavour dimensions, identifying which notes complement and contrast. Our analysis reveals, for example, how rice cakes's oryzan tones embrace gochujang, and how maple syrup's sotolon notes create a surprising synergy with its fiery sensation.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. spice, nectarous, and maillard) enhanced by layers of subtle aroma notes (outer bars). When pairing ingredients, aim for a mix of core traits to build balance, and select complementary aroma notes to create harmony.

Unlocking Flavour Combinations

To understand how flavour notes harmonise, we analysed more than 50,000 popular ingredient combinations. By exploring these pairings, we identified specific flavour notes that frequently occur together, indicating they share a harmonious relationship.

The Flavours That Harmonise With Capsaicin Notes

Our analysis shows that the flavour of chilli is strongly associated with the flavour of fenugreek. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a fenugreek flavour, such as maple syrup, when pairing with the hot aromas of gochujang.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing gochujang with maple syrup.

Harmonious Flavours Of Gochujang

Just as our analysis revealed that chilli and fenugreek flavour accents harmonise well, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour accents present in gochujang. For instance, the capsicum accents of gochujang are strongly associated with briney and mustardy notes.

The aroma accents associated with the various aroma notes of gochujang can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of rice cakes offers many of the aroma notes complementary to gochujang, including rice and starch aroma notes. Because the flavour profile of rice cakes has many of the of the features that are complementary to gochujang, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of rice cakes across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with gochujang.

Recipes That Pair Gochujang With Rice Cakes

Linked Flavour Notes

Looking at the notes that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of gochujang, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of gochujang, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the accents complementary to gochujang.

What To Drink With Gochujang

The rice notes in genmaicha tea make it a perfect pairing with gochujang. Likewise, the malic flavours in sparkling apple juice create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of gochujang below.

Which Vegetables Go With Gochujang?

Choose vegetables that resonate with its fieriness or anchor its fermented aroma. Green bean and courgette offer vibrant, clean counterpoints, their verdant freshness lifting the palate. Red cabbage add a gentle, oniony brightness, while yellow bell pepper introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with gochujang's savoriness. The addition of lettuce, with its subtle oryzan notes, can complement the koji beautifully, while purple potato lends a starchy aroma.

How Flavonomics Works

We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.

Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.

Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.

We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.

These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Gochujang), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.