Creamy Gochujang Pasta

5 from 3 votes

Make this creamy gochujang pasta in just 15 minutes! Inspired by penne alla vodka, this fusion dish is the perfect comfort food dinner.

Servings servings

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 12

Total Time 15

Ingredients

½ pound penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon minced garlic
¼ medium yellow onion minced
14.5 ounces canned fire roasted crushed tomatoes
½ cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons gochujang
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
¼ fluid ounce vodka
¼ cup pasta water
¼ medium lemon juiced
1 pinch sea salt
1 tablespoon chives minced

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

First, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente.
In the meantime, heat the olive oil and garlic in a large sauté pan over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, about 2 to 4 minutes, then stir in the crushed tomatoes and lower the heat to a simmer.
Next, stir in the heavy cream, gochujang, grated parmesan, and vodka. Simmer while the pasta finishes cooking, about 8 minutes or so. When the pasta is just about done, add pasta water to the sauce. Finish with lemon juice and sea salt, stirring well to combine. Taste and adjust lemon juice and salt as needed.
Drain the pasta and then add it to the sauce. Stir until the pasta is completely coated, then remove from heat. Serve hot, topped with minced chives.

Notes

Gochujang: Gochujang is a highly concentrated chili paste with a pungent flavor thanks to fermented soybeans. It’s a staple ingredient in Korean cooking that’s often used for marinades, sauces, or adding flavor to soups or stews! You should be able to find it easily in the Asian foods section of your grocery store.

Notes on ingredients: This recipe was inspired by penne alla vodka, so we use a splash of vodka to help bring out the flavors! If you don't have vodka, don't bother buying it just for this recipe - skip this ingredient and add more lemon juice if needed to brighten the dish.

We also like to use fire roasted tomatoes for their sweet and smoky flavor (it complements the gochujang well). Regular crushed tomatoes will work fine if needed.

Finally - don't skip the chives! They're crucial in balancing the flavors in this dish and add some freshness that helps counteract the heavy, creamy sauce.

Balancing the flavors: Different brands of gochujang vary in spice level and flavor. This is why we recommend tasting the sauce after adding the lemon juice and salt - these two ingredients help balance the flavors. If the sauce tastes a little too spicy or not quite balanced, try adding a little more lemon juice, salt, or both and see how the flavor changes.

Serving suggestions: We like to serve gochujang pasta with a side of fresh, fluffy bread for sopping up the extra sauce. This dish also goes great with a simple side salad.

Author: Nicole Langdon

Calories: 797kcal

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Fusion, Italian, Korean

Keyword: chives, fine sea salt, fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, gochujang, heavy cream, lemon juice, olive oil, parmesan, penne, spicy, vodka, yellow onion

Nutrition