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Flavorful Gochujang Bolognese Recipe Easy Spicy One-Pot Meal

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A quick and easy one-pot meal combining the bold flavors of Italian bolognese with the spicy kick of Korean gochujang, perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (preferably 80/20 for juiciness)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste) – adjust to your spice preference
  • 1 can (14 oz/400g) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) water or beef broth (to loosen sauce if needed)
  • 12 oz (340g) pasta of choice (spaghetti, penne, or your favorite)
  • Fresh basil leaves or chopped parsley (optional garnish)
  • Grated Parmesan or Pecorino cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Chop the onion finely and mince the garlic. Measure out gochujang, tomato paste, and herbs.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, break it up, and cook 5-7 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Push beef to one side. Add chopped onions and cook 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Stir in gochujang and tomato paste, cooking 1-2 minutes to mellow the chili paste.
  5. Add crushed tomatoes, soy sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir and scrape bottom of pan. Add 1/4 cup water or broth if sauce is too thick.
  6. Reduce heat to low, cover pan partially, and simmer sauce for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. While sauce simmers, boil salted water in a large pot. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and reserve 1 cup pasta water.
  8. Add drained pasta to sauce pan. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed. Cook together 1-2 minutes.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and grated Parmesan.

Notes

Brown the beef well for deeper flavor. Add gochujang gradually to control spice. Avoid burning garlic by adding it after onions soften. Simmer sauce partially covered to maintain moisture. Toss pasta off heat for better coating. Use reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and tamari instead of soy sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: gochujang bolognese, spicy bolognese, Korean chili paste, one-pot meal, easy dinner, weeknight recipe, fusion cuisine

Find it online: https://blingbite.com/flavorful-gochujang-bolognese-recipe-easy-spicy-one-pot-meal/