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Gochugaru is what makes kimchi red without making it brutally hot. Swap it wrong and you either lose the colour or blow the dish apart.
The best gochugaru substitute
Use mild Kashmiri chilli powder, one for one. It has the same deep red colour and gentle heat, which is the combination that matters. Aleppo pepper is the next closest, with a similar fruity, mild character. Avoid standard chilli powder and cayenne.
Every substitute, ranked
- Kashmiri chilli powder. One for one. Colour and mild heat both match.
- Aleppo pepper. One for one. Fruity and mild, slightly coarser.
- Sweet paprika plus a pinch of cayenne. Four parts paprika to one part cayenne.
- Gochujang. Only for sauces, not dry rubs. It is a wet paste with sugar in it.
- Crushed chilli flakes. Last resort. Use a third of the amount and expect more heat.
What is gochugaru?
Gochugaru is Korean dried red chilli, deseeded and either coarsely flaked or finely powdered. It is fruity and smoky with a moderate heat, far milder than most European chilli powders. Coarse flakes are used for kimchi, fine powder for sauces and stews.
Where to buy gochugaru in the UK
Korean grocers are the best source and stock both grinds. Large supermarkets increasingly carry a small bag in the world food aisle. Buy the smallest bag you will get through, because the colour fades with age.
- Korean supermarkets such as Oseyo and H Mart
- Online: Starry Mart, Oriental Mart, Amazon
- Some larger supermarket world food aisles
- Keep it in the freezer to hold the colour and aroma
Frequently asked questions
Is gochugaru the same as gochujang?
No. Gochugaru is a dry chilli flake. Gochujang is a fermented paste made with chilli, rice and soybean. They are not interchangeable.
How hot is gochugaru?
Mild to moderate. Most gochugaru sits well below cayenne, which is why kimchi recipes use several tablespoons of it.
Coarse or fine?
Coarse for kimchi and anything where you want visible flecks. Fine for sauces, marinades and stews where you want colour throughout.
Can I use paprika on its own?
For colour, yes. But it brings no heat at all, so add a pinch of cayenne to get closer.
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- Gochugaru chilli flakes. The real thing, coarse Korean chilli flakes.
- Crushed red chilli flakes. A rougher, hotter substitute.
