Creamy Gochujang Pasta
If you love Penne alla Vodka but want to shake things up, you need to meet its spicy, savory Korean cousin. This Creamy Gochujang Pasta (sometimes called ‘Rose Pasta’) has taken over the internet for a reason—it is ridiculously good and comes together in less than 20 minutes.
The star ingredient is Gochujang, a fermented Korean chili paste that is spicy, savory, and slightly sweet all at once. When you mix it with heavy cream, garlic, and Parmesan, it mellows out into a rich, velvety orange sauce that coats every single noodle.
It’s the perfect weeknight comfort food: spicy enough to wake you up, creamy enough to feel luxurious, and easy enough to make when you are totally exhausted.
Creamy Gochujang Pasta
Course: Uncategorized2
servings5
minutes15
minutes20
minutesIngredients
8 oz Rigatoni or Penne pasta
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, finely diced
2-3 tbsp Gochujang (Korean red pepper paste – adjust for spice level!)
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup pasta water (reserved from the boiling pot)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Red pepper flakes (optional, for garnish)
Parsley or green onions (for garnish)
Directions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Important: Before draining, scoop out a cup of the starchy pasta water. You will need this later!
- While pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the Gochujang paste to the pan. Stir it into the onions and let it “fry” for 1-2 minutes. This deepens the flavor and color.
- Lower the heat to medium-low. Pour in the heavy cream and stir until the red paste dissolves into a beautiful orange-pink sauce. Let it simmer gently for 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta directly into the sauce. Pour in about 1/4 cup of that reserved pasta water and the Parmesan cheese. Toss vigorously! The starch and cheese will emulsify into a glossy, thick sauce. (Add more pasta water if it looks too dry).
- Plate immediately and top with extra Parmesan, red pepper flakes, or green onions.
