Korean Chili Flakes Recipes

Korean chili flakes, or gochugaru, are vibrant red pepper flakes used throughout Korean cooking. They bring a warm, fruity heat with a subtle smokiness, making them essential for kimchi, tteokbokki, spicy soups, dipping sauces, and marinades.

Unlike standard crushed red pepper, Korean chili flakes usually have a softer texture and a deeper chile flavor without overwhelming bitterness. Fine gochugaru is ideal for pastes and sauces, while coarse flakes add color and texture to vegetables, noodles, stews, and grilled meats.

Use Korean chili flakes when a recipe needs both heat and rich red color. They bloom beautifully in oil, broth, soy-based sauces, and fermented pastes like gochujang and doenjang.