How to Make Korean ssam sauce

• In a mixing bowl, combine the Korean red pepper paste (Gochujang), rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, toasted sesame seeds, and finely chopped green onion. Mix well until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. If you prefer a slightly saltier taste, you can add a pinch of salt.
• Heat a small saucepan over medium-low heat and add the vegetable oil. Once the oil is heated, add the sauce mixture from the bowl into the saucepan.
• Stir the sauce continuously as it cooks for about 5 minutes. This will help to bring out the flavors of the ingredients and create a smooth consistency.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. As it cools, the flavors will continue to meld together, resulting in a well-balanced and delicious sauce.
• Once the sauce has cooled down, transfer it to a clean, airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. The ssam sauce can be stored for up to two weeks.

Korean ssam sauce is traditionally served with Korean barbecue dishes such as bulgogi (marinated beef), samgyeopsal (pork belly), or galbi (marinated short ribs). It is also commonly used as a dipping sauce for fresh lettuce wraps (ssam) and other vegetables.

Korean ssam sauce is a bold and flavorful hot sauce made primarily from Korean red pepper paste (Gochujang). It offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy elements, making it a delightful accompaniment to various grilled meats and fresh vegetable wraps. The sauce’s rich umami and spicy kick add a distinctive and authentic taste to Korean barbecue dishes.

Facts about the sauce:

1. Gochujang, the main ingredient in ssam sauce, is a fermented red pepper paste that has been a staple in Korean cuisine for centuries.
2. Ssam sauce is known for its spiciness, which comes from the Korean red pepper paste, but it also contains sweet and savory notes from honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
3. This versatile sauce can be adjusted to suit individual preferences by varying the amounts of ingredients to achieve the desired level of spiciness, sweetness, or saltiness.
4. In Korean culture, sharing a meal with friends or family and enjoying various ssam dishes with ssam sauce is a significant social and cultural tradition.