Kimchi Cheddar Hot Dog

Kimchi Cheddar Hot Dog

Kimchi Cheddar Hot Dog
🌭 🌶️ 🥔
Seaweed Gochugaru Potato Chips

This is the kind of hot dog that leans fully into bold, layered flavor—where every element has a purpose. There’s warm, sautéed kimchi for funk, a swipe of gochujang mayo for heat and creamy notes, and a fine shred of cabbage that keeps everything crisp and balanced. The cheddar melts just enough over the hot dog to soften into the kimchi, while scallions and sesame seeds add that final fresh, nutty finish. It’s a combination that feels a little indulgent, a little punchy, and very hard to stop eating.

On the side, the seaweed gochugaru potato chips echo similar flavors in a lighter, snackable way. The roasted seaweed—pulsed into delicate flakes—clings to the chips along with a dusting of gochugaru, giving them a subtle briny note and and a bit of fire. Paired with an ice-cold Hite lager, it all comes together as an easy, casual meal. It’s the kind of plate that works very well for serving outdoors, where the contrast of cold beer, hot spices, and crisp salty textures really shines.

Gochujang is a Korean red chili paste with sweet heat and a fermented umami richness. It has a balanced fruitiness, slight smokiness and depth of flavor from the sun-dried Korean red peppers. Gochugaru, also made from sun-dried red peppers, is a coarse-ground chili powder. Together, they give this hot dog plate its distinctive Korean spiciness.

Seaweed Gochugaru Potato Chips
Hot Dog and Chips Recipes

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Gochujang Jjigae – A Spicy Vegan Stew

Gochujang Jjigae - A Spicy Vegan Stew

Gochujang Jjigae – A Spicy Vegan Stew
🍲 🌶️ 🥬 🥔 🍲
With Collards, Potatoes, and Tofu

Gochujang jjigae is a classic Korean stew, brimming with bold fermented flavors, tender vegetables, and usually some type of protein—meat, seafood, or tofu.

Traditionally, Korean stews rely on leafy greens like napa cabbage, radish greens, or spinach, but in this version, I’ve added collard greens. They aren’t commonly found in Korean cooking, yet their sturdy leaves and mild brassica flavor make them surprisingly compatible with the rich, spicy broth.

Collards soften beautifully during simmering while contributing a subtle sweetness that balances the depth of the gochujang and doenjang. They also hold their shape well, giving each spoonful a satisfying bite. Beyond flavor, collard greens are packed with vitamins K, A, and C, along with fiber, calcium, and antioxidants, making this stew not only comforting but nourishing as well.

Tender potatoes add body to the stew, while tofu soaks up the spicy, savory broth, creating a hearty, well-rounded dish. Finished with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, a sprinkling of scallions, and a few grinds of black pepper, this gochujang jjigae is a vibrant, warming bowl that’s perfect served alongside steamed white rice. It’s a simple, vegan-friendly way to experience bold Korean flavors with an unexpected leafy green twist.

Vegan Gochujang Jjigae Recipe

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Korean Meatloaf Burgers

Korean Meatloaf Burger

Korean Meatloaf Burgers
Kimchi, Cheddar, Fried Egg, Mayo

These Korean Meatloaf Burgers transform classic comfort food with a bold, spicy twist inspired by Bobby Flay’s Korean-Style Meatloaf. Made with a tender, deeply savory mix of ground beef, pork, and veal — a butcher’s blend that stays moist and full of flavor — each bite delivers succulent richness and layered depth.

What really sets this meatloaf apart is the punch of Korean ingredients gochujang (Korean chili paste) and gochugaru (Korean chili flakes). They add just the right balance of sweet heat, balanced fruitiness, and slight smokiness. Soy sauce, fish sauce, toasted sesame oil, ginger, and garlic add a deep umami and savoriness.

Glazed with a sweet-spicy sauce that caramelizes beautifully in the oven, the meatloaf is delicious on its own — but piled onto a soft toasted brioche bun with tangy kimchi, sharp melty cheddar, and a fried egg, it transforms into an unforgettable burger that’s messy in all the best ways.

Make the whole loaf ahead of time, then stack up these burgers the next day for comfort food with a spicy Korean twist at its tastiest.

Korean Meatloaf Burgers

Korean Meatloaf Recipe

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Gochujang Lamb Shanks, Polenta, Fresh Greens, Hot Mustard Sauce

Gochujang Lamb Shanks, Polenta, Fresh Greens, Hot Mustard Sauce

Gochujang Lamb Shanks
Creamy Parmesan Polenta
Fresh Wild Arugula, Mint, Scallions
Hot Mustard Sesame Garlic Sauce

Gochujang brings a fiery kick, while daikon radish provides a crisp, peppery contrast to the creamy polenta. A bold hot mustard sauce balances beautifully with the rich succulent meat. These lamb shanks are slow-braised in a tangy, sweet, and savory blend of pomegranate juice and figs, then finished under the broiler for a crispy exterior and meltingly tender, flavorful interior.

With its sweet heat and deep, fermented umami notes, gochujang—Korean red chili paste—offers a balanced fruitiness, a hint of smokiness, and layers of flavor from sun-dried Korean red peppers. It complements the meat and pomegranate-fig sauce perfectly, resulting in a dish bursting with vibrant flavors, contrasting textures, bold aromas, and a wild presentation.

Gochujang Lamb Shanks, Polenta, Fresh Greens, Hot Mustard Sauce

Gochujang Lamb Shanks Recipe

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Gochujang Sloppy Joes

Gochujang Sloppy Joes

Gochujang Sloppy Joes

In the early 70s, my high school cafeteria lunch was almost always a sloppy joe sandwich with a bag of Cheetos and a cold bottle of Coke. Diet Coke hadn’t been invented yet. And there was only one type of Cheetos, Crunchy. Baked Cheetos and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos would come later.

I also remember my mother making tasty sloppy joes for dinner with three ingredients: ground beef, ketchup, and mustard. No measuring, she just added ketchup and mustard to the browned beef. Served it on hamburger buns or white bread (it was Wonder, which helped build strong bodies 12 ways). 💪

It has been decades since I’ve had (or even wanted) a sloppy joe sandwich. But after coming across several intriguing sloppy joe recipes on the internet that included gochujang, I had to try my own version.

Now these Gochujang Sloppy Joes are much spicier and more complex than old-school style. Gochujang is a Korean red chili paste with sweet heat and a fermented umami richness. It has a balanced fruitiness, slight smokiness and depth of flavor from the sun-dried Korean red peppers. Gochugaru, also made from sun-dried red peppers, is a coarse-ground chili powder. Together, they give this messy sandwich its distinctive Korean spiciness.

Gochujang Sloppy Joes Recipe

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