Spicy and Sweet Braised Japanese Peppers (Kwarigochu Jorim)
The Best Side Dish! How to Make Kwarigochu Jorim
Here’s a recipe for Kwarigochu Jorim that will become your go-to when you have no appetite. The perfect harmony of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors makes it an excellent side dish that anyone can easily make with simple ingredients. The chewy texture of the Korean chili peppers combined with the umami-rich sauce creates a universally loved flavor. Make this delicious Kwarigochu Jorim right away!
Main Ingredients- 250g Kwarigochu (Korean sweet chili peppers)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose soy sauce (can substitute with regular or brewed soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (can substitute with rice syrup)
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil (e.g., canola oil, grapeseed oil)
- 5 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Wash the kwarigochu thoroughly under running water and trim off the stems. It’s important to drain the washed peppers completely in a colander. If there’s remaining water, the braised dish might turn out bland.
Step 2
To allow the sauce to penetrate the peppers well, pierce them two or three times with a fork or skewer. Be gentle when piercing so they don’t break apart.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious braising sauce. In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp all-purpose soy sauce, 1 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp corn syrup, and 1 Tbsp cooking oil.
Step 4
Add 5 Tbsp of water to this mixture and stir well with a spoon until the sugar is completely dissolved, creating the sauce. Make sure to dissolve any lumps in the sauce.
Step 5
Your flavorful sauce is now ready! We will use this sauce to braise the kwarigochu.
Step 6
Place all the prepared kwarigochu in a deep pan or pot. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the peppers. Ensure the peppers are well coated with the sauce.
Step 7
Cover the pan with a lid and bring it to a boil over high heat. Boiling over high heat helps to develop the delicious flavors as the peppers cook.
Step 8
Once steam starts to rise nicely from the pan, it’s time to adjust the heat.
Step 9
Remove the lid and reduce the heat to medium-low to prevent the peppers from burning.
Step 10
Over medium-low heat, stir the kwarigochu occasionally, tossing them gently in the pan to braise. Pay attention to ensure the sauce evenly coats the peppers.
Step 11
When the sauce has reduced and clings to the peppers, it’s almost done. Be careful not to reduce it too much, as it might burn.
Step 12
Finally, turn off the heat and stir in 1 Tbsp of sesame oil and 1 Tbsp of toasted sesame seeds to finish. The sesame oil and seeds will add a wonderful nutty aroma.
Step 13
Transfer the deliciously braised kwarigochu to a nice serving dish. Your wonderful side dish, Kwarigochu Jorim, is complete! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice.
