Korean Bulgogi Bolognese Recipe (2024)

I've investigated the matter of substituting gochujang for tomato paste. I have concluded that you can and you should.

Loved this with some adjustments to make it more Korean. I used 1/2 gochugang and 1/2 tomato paste and only about 2tbs of soy sauce, added a splash of mirin (and reduced sugar since mirin is sweet). I also used some of the pasta water to help make it more saucy. Finally, I garnished with some toasted sesame seeds.

We've made this about 5 times now, making little adjustments each time. Goldilocks for us was add a TBLof gochujang (replacing the tomato paste entirely with this was way to hot), reducing the sugar to 1 TBL (way too sweet with a 1/4 cup), cut the soy sauce to 1/2 cup, add about another cup of mushrooms, and a bit more of the celery and carrots just because we wanted a little more veggies in it. We also use ground turkey instead of beef. A real winner. This has become one of our regular meals!

YumChange to 1 Tbl tomato paste and 1 Tbl Gochujang1/2 cup soy sauce2 Tbl coconut sugar

I used 1/2 the amount of soy sauce, 2 tbsp Gochugang and 1 tbsp of tomato paste, a glug of Mirin, a splash of sesame oil and garnished with toasted sesame seeds. It was a scrumptious balance of east and west. Will surely cook again and again.

I used "Too Hot" Gochujang paste (which isn't really that hot), and the flavor was good, but the sodium content per Tbsp is higher than regular soy, so even with low sodium soy, I found it to be saltier than I like. Next time I'll use half Gochujang, half tomato paste. I also threw in a couple small, very ripe garden tomatoes for additional liquid, and might add more next time to make it saucier. I only used half the sugar called for; I thought the sweetness level was fine.

We’ve been enjoying this dish on the regular for more than a year with the following changes:2 tbsps gochugang2 tbsp tomato paste 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy saucesplash of mirin2 tbsp sugarA tsp or do of toasted sesame oilpasta water to help make it more saucyLast night, I decided to add a butter toasted panko breadcrumb topping with some gochugaru and toasted sesame seeds and WOW. So good.

Any thoughts about substituting Gochujang for tomato paste?

I made this dish as written (couldn’t find tagliatelle or paperadelle but used other wide egg noodles). It was very easy and the ingredients are easily found. My people weren’t crazy about the sweetness but that’s a matter of preference and not a flaw of the recipe. If you like that sweet-salty dichotomy, this is a good and filling dish.

I added red pepper flakes after the sugar and the heat glanced the sweetness. We really liked the dish.

I think this is becoming my new go-to “Bolognese” recipe! I really enjoyed the special touch the soy sauce, ginger and scallions added. I did use a tablespoon of gochujang, which was a great complement. Since I like heat, I’ll use more next time.

The amount of soy sauce called for made this glaringly, overpoweringly salty for us. We liked this recipe overall, but if I make it again, I'll cut down on the soy sauce. Maybe replace some of it with water?

Use lower sodium soy. Kikkoman with the green top. That way you don’t dilute the “umami” flavor while reducing the overall salinity.

It would be best to cook the ground beef separately, drain off the fat, and then add the meat to the sautéed vegetables. Otherwise, all of that beef fat becomes part of your sauce! That’s what happened the first time I made this. My family liked the taste but remarked on the greasiness

Subs/ changes:1T gochugang sauce (possibly more)1T tomato pasteScallion-greens onlySoy- 1/3c1T brown sugar Add red pepper flakes to taste at end if not spicy enough

Made the bolognese only - will eat it later this week with pasta. Took advice of earlier notes and used 1T ea of hot Gochujang and tomato paste, 1/4 c of low sodium soy sauce, 1T of sugar and a "glug" of mirin. Rehydrated dried porchinis & used the rehydrating water. Funny - forgot the salt and pepper but the flavor is there! Not too salty, and can always add S&P when reheating. A nice hit of heat, and some sweet. Thinking the flavors will really marry overnight. A good recipe.

I second using gojujang instead of the tomato paste (I actually used 2 tablespoons of gojujang and also added a tablespoon of tomato paste). Really good.

Delicious but too sweet for our palate. I would cut the sugar down at least by half.

Thanks for the notes everyone! Yes to gochujang, less sugar and one can of diced tomatoes. Paired w broccoli rabe w sesame oil. Kids loved it.

Really didn’t care for this one. Maybe I did something wrong but it just never got saucy. Just oil and meat and noodles, though good flavors, it didn’t feel like a cohesive dish. I won’t bother trying again.

I took the recommendation to use gochujang sauce for half of the tomato paste and it was delicious. I used more celery, less onion and served it over beans instead of pasta. Then I topped it with mozzarella and melted it all under the broiler. Incredibly delicious.

I’ve made this many times and it’s easy and delicious! This last time I omitted the mushrooms (added a little more ground beef) due to an allergy and it was still yummy.

Straightforward recipe; followed comments with the addition of gochujang. I found this dish to be on the sweet side, and I was craving some more oomph. More mushrooms perhaps? Some fish sauce did the trick for me.

Easy to make. Filling and provided the sweet salty texture the recipe described. I didn’t get the depth of flavor they talked about. I would make this again.

Be careful of salt level.

2 egg yolk at end

I didn't read the note about using low sodium soy sauce and used the full amount of regular soy sauce. Next time I will halve the amount at least, it was enough salt to kill me. I have to eat this bolognese over plain congee now bc of how salty it is. :(

My modified version of this recipe was so good. Skipped the tomato paste and sugar, and doubled the Gochujang because who wouldn't? Our Sunday was drizzly and cool, so we decided to make homemade pappardelle (with semolina flour) and picked a Northern Italian red from our cellar to pair with. Leftovers the following day were spectacular, too.

After veggies do rice wineAdd gochugang next timeBlend a bit next time

unexpectedly delicious recipe. omitted sugar, added 2 tbl gochujang (2tbl paste too)with addition feel like soy sauce could be lowered to 1/2 cup.