Gochujang enoki mushrooms in spicy garlic sauce

If you are craving a spicy dish bursting with flavor and complexity, these Gochujang enoki mushrooms in spicy garlic sauce will totally hit the spot for you. I am OBSESSED with this recipe. It’s everything I want on a cold winter day. These Gochujang enoki mushrooms are super simple to make, flavor-filled, and will warm you up from head to toe.

This recipe features pan-seared enoki mushrooms, tossed in a spicy Gochujang garlic sauce, and topped with scallions. For the spicy Gochujang garlic sauce, you will be adding a couple more ingredients than your typical Gochujang enoki mushroom dish, but they are simple to add and totally worth it! The complexity to this sauce is really something to write home about.

Serve these Gochujang enoki mushrooms in spicy garlic sauce as a side dish or appetizer. You can also throw them over rice and serve them as a healthy, main course!

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Enoki Mushrooms

If you have not had the pleasure of eating Enoki Mushrooms, here is your chance. These babies are DELICIOUS! Enoki Mushrooms are thin, small mushrooms with a mild earthy, umami flavor. What makes them so special is their unique texture. Enoki mushrooms are slightly chewy and crisp at the same time. When you sauté or air fry them, they can really take on an extremely crispy texture. They are also connected at the bottom, and can be served in small bunches. This clustering makes them a PERFECT vehicle for sauce!

Enoki mushrooms are not only a delicious addition to your diet, they are also fantastic for you! Enoki mushrooms are full of vitamins and minerals, including fiber, iron, magnesium, and potassium. The list goes on and on. So long story short…eat those enoki mushrooms!

Where can I buy Enoki Mushrooms

You can purchase Enoki Mushrooms at your local Asian grocery store. Sometimes you can also find Enoki Mushrooms at a basic grocery store in the produce section.

What is Gochujang

If you love spicy food and this is your first experience with Gochujang, you’re in for a treat! Gochujang is a spicy paste used in Korean cooking. This paste is made from fermented soy beans, rice, chili peppers, and salt. Gochujang can be described as spicy, sweet, and well rounded. It’s comforting, complex flavor is an amazing addition to many dishes.

Where can I buy Gochujang for Spicy Enoki Mushrooms

You can purchase Gochujang in the International isle at most grocery stores. You can also find it in Asian grocery stores and online.

Spicy Garlic Sauce for Gochujang Enoki Mushrooms

There are a lot of recipes out there combining the same few ingredients for your typical Gochujang Enoki Mushrooms. Of course, I can’t help myself, and need to take things in a slightly new direction.

To create my own spin on this classic Gochujang Enoki Mushroom recipe I added a few tasty ingredients. For this Gochujang spicy garlic sauce, you will be starting with, of course, Gochujang. Then you will be combining it with garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and water. Those are all of your usual suspects for Gochujang Enoki Mushrooms.

The twist? Fresh ginger, and 5 spice seasoning! Simple additions, yes, but they make a world of difference. Fresh grated ginger will add a different layer of spice to the dish. And 5 spice, being a sweet, savory, complex spice blend, will add many more notes to this dish that will leave your taste buds dancing! The fusion of Korean Gochujang and Chinese five spice is definitely one of my favorite fusions of flavor.

Gochugaru in Spicy Gochujang Enoki Mushroom Sauce

Most Gochujang Enoki Mushroom recipes call for Gochugaru. Gochugaru is a Korean chili powder made from coarsely ground, seedless, sun-dried peppers. For this version of Spicy Gochujang Enoki mushrooms, I left it out. Why? Because it’s spicy! Gochujang is already very spicy, so I didn’t want to make myself or my guests cry by adding another level of heat to the dish.

If you love super spicy food, add a tablespoon of Gochugaru to this recipe!

How to make Gochujang Enoki Mushrooms in spicy garlic sauce

Making Gochujang Enoki Mushrooms is super simple and can be prepped and ready in under 20 minutes!

Start by removing the bottom of your enoki mushrooms and washing them. Then you want to make sure they are totally dry. Wet mushrooms are the enemy of pan-searing. Once mushrooms are prepped and dry, you will pan sear them in a little bit of oil until they are brown and slightly crispy. When they are pan-seared just right, you will remove the enoki mushrooms from the pan and set then aside.

Now it’s time to make the spicy Gochujang garlic sauce! You will start by sautéing garlic with oil in a pan over medium heat for several minutes. Then you will add the rest of the ingredients for the Gochujang garlic sauce. Let the sauce simmer and reduce for several minutes. Then add the mushrooms back to the sauce and allow to cook for several more minutes.

Next you will remove mushrooms from heat, top with sliced scallions and enjoy!

How to serve Gochujang Enoki Mushrooms in spicy garlic sauce

These Gochujang enoki mushrooms can be enjoyed in several ways. You can serve them as an appetizer or side dish for any Korean inspired meal. You can also toss them over rice and enjoy these spicy Gochujang enoki mushrooms as a healthy, light, main course!

Gochujang mushrooms are also perfect for meal prep. You can prep just the sauce ahead of time or the entire dish ahead. Store in an air tight container in the fridge and reheat when ready to serve.

Here’s some More Spicy Vegan or Asian Inspired Recipes!