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Kkwari-gochu jorim

Kkwari-gochu jorim (꽈리고추조림): wrinkled shishito peppers braised in soy, garlic and rice syrup

Kkwari-gochu, the small wrinkly peppers the Japanese call shishito, are braised all over Korea into a soft, garlicky, sweet-soy banchan that sits in the fridge ready for the dosirak. Many households add dried anchovies; this version leaves them out and keeps it vegan, with a few toasted sesame seeds for crunch. Most peppers are mild, but about one in ten is surprisingly hot. The common mistake is leaving the peppers whole and unpierced, so they puff up and never take in the sauce. Chef's tip: prick each pepper with a fork once or twice, and the braising liquid soaks right into it.
Total time
17 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Pull the stalks off 7 oz shishito peppers (kkwari-gochu) and prick each one with a fork. Halve any very large ones.

  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp neutral oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry 3 garlic cloves for 30 seconds, until fragrant but not brown.

  3. Step 3: Add the peppers and stir-fry for 3 minutes, until they wrinkle and blister in places.

    3 min
  4. Step 4: Pour in 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice syrup (ssal-yeot) and 4 tbsp water, cover and simmer over a low heat for 5 minutes, until the peppers are soft and olive green.

    5 min
  5. Step 5: Uncover and cook for 2–3 minutes more, stirring, until the sauce is reduced to a sticky glaze. Sprinkle with 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds. Cool and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    3 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
60 kcal
Protein
2 g
Carbs
10 g
Fat
2 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does kkwari-gochu jorim take?
About 17 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
What can I use instead of soy sauce?
Tamari, same amount (gluten free).

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