Gochugaru
Also known as: Korean chili flakes, Korean red pepper, gochugaru flakes
Gochugaru (고추가루) is the sun-dried, coarsely ground Korean chili pepper that forms the flavor backbone of kimchi, gochujang, tteokbokki, and most of Korean cooking. Less about raw heat, more about deep red color and complex umami-adjacent flavor.
The full profile
Gochugaru is proof that a pepper's culinary importance has nothing to do with its Scoville rating. At roughly jalapeño-level heat, this pepper shapes the flavor identity of an entire national cuisine. The characteristic red color of Korean food — kimchi, sundubu jjigae, dakgalbi — comes from gochugaru's pigment. The fermentation process in gochujang concentrates it into a paste of extraordinary depth. This is the pepper to understand if you want to cook Korean food authentically.
Flavor
Smoky, sweet, and mildly fruity with a gentle warmth — the defining flavor of Korean cuisine.
Color
Deep red
Heat level
Medium
4K–8K SHU
2,500–30,000 SHU
Did you know
Despite its central place in Korean cuisine today, chili peppers are not native to Korea — they were introduced by Portuguese or Japanese traders in the late 16th century, around the time of the Imjin War.
How to use it
- —Essential ingredient in kimchi fermentation
- —Base for gochujang paste (combined with rice and fermented soy)
- —Tteokbokki sauce with fish cakes
- —Korean fried chicken marinade and coating
- —Dubu jorim (spicy braised tofu)
Pairs well with
Shop these
Sauces and products that feature gochugaru.
Flavor builder
Korean Gochujang Paste
Fermented chili paste for noodles, wings, marinades, and that sweet-savory Korean backbone.
View on Amazon ↗Numbing heat
Fly By Jing Sichuan Gold
A more citrusy, peppercorn-leaning sauce when you want flavor movement instead of pure capsaicin.
View on Amazon ↗Texture hit
Crunchy Chili Crisp
Crunch, oil, and lingering heat for dumplings, eggs, noodles, and roasted vegetables.
View on Amazon ↗Cook with it
Recipes that use gochugaru.
korean · hot
Apr 15, 2026Buldak Tteokbokki with Extra Gochujang and Fresh Chilies
Chewy rice cakes bathed in a deeply spicy sauce that layers gochujang, Korean chili flakes, and fresh habaneros for the kind of heat that makes you reach for more. 35 min · 0 saves.
korean · medium
Apr 14, 2026Korean Spicy Pork Bulgogi (Daeji Bulgogi)
Tender marinated pork shoulder grilled with gochujang and Korean pear, delivering authentic medium heat with sweet and savory balance. 32 min · 0 saves.
korean · mild
Apr 7, 2026Korean Soft Tofu Stew (Sundubu-jjigae)
A comforting Korean stew featuring silky soft tofu in a gently spiced broth with vegetables and your choice of protein. The perfect introduction to Korean heat levels. 27 min · 0 saves.