By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026

Sweet and Spicy Korean Ketchup

Serves 2

181 cal · 2 min

Sweet and Spicy Korean Ketchup

Recipe GLPR2d94c33e3593c6

4.5(1)
Korean
Sauce & Condiment
2 min
181 cal
Servings: 2
No-Cook
SNAP eligible

A vibrant Korean-inspired condiment that combines the tangy sweetness of ketchup with the bold heat and umami depth of gochujang. This versatile sauce features warming ginger and garlic notes, finished with a subtle nuttiness from sesame oil. Perfect for dipping, glazing, or enhancing grilled meats and vegetables.

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Ingredients

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons gochujang

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, add the ketchup and gochujang together.

  2. Stir in the dark brown sugar and soy sauce until the sugar begins to dissolve.

  3. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, mixing well to incorporate.

  4. Drizzle in the sesame oil and stir until everything is fully combined and smooth.

  5. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. The sauce is ready to serve immediately or can be refrigerated for up to one week.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4.5

This is a condiment, not a meal, and it delivers exactly what it promises in genuinely two minutes with zero prep headaches—just whisk together seven shelf-stable ingredients. Every component is available at any Charlotte chain, though gochujang requires a trip to either Harris Teeter's Asian section or ALDI's growing selection, and sesame oil similarly lives in specialty sections rather than the mainstream oil aisle. At roughly $0.30 per serving spread across two people, this is cheap enough that the slightly higher cost of gochujang amortizes quickly across multiple batches. It reheats perfectly in the microwave and keeps for weeks, making it genuinely useful rather than a one-off novelty. The only reason this is not a full 5.0 is that "servings: 2" is a stretch for a sauce—it's really a high-yield condiment best measured by tablespoon, and the stated time conveniently skips that a new cook would want to taste and adjust the heat balance before committing.

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