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Flavorful Gochujang Pasta Recipe Easy Homemade with Parmesan and Crispy Pancetta

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A quick and easy pasta dish combining spicy Korean gochujang, creamy Parmesan, and crispy pancetta for a flavorful weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or linguine
  • 4 oz (115 g) pancetta, diced
  • 2 tablespoons gochujang
  • ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Salt, to season pasta water and adjust final seasoning
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add about 1 tablespoon of salt for every 4 quarts (4 liters) of water. Cook 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or linguine until al dente, usually 8-10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup (120 ml) pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 oz (115 g) diced pancetta. Cook until crispy and golden, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Spoon out some fat if excessive, but keep enough to flavor the dish.
  3. Add 2 minced garlic cloves to the pancetta pan. Sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding browning.
  4. Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 tablespoons gochujang, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon butter. Mix until butter melts and forms a smooth paste. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) heavy cream if using, stirring gently to create a creamy sauce. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  5. Transfer drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together over low heat so pasta absorbs the sauce. Add ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan and toss until melted and coating every strand. Season with freshly ground black pepper and adjust salt if needed.
  6. Remove from heat and garnish with thinly sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

Notes

Do not rinse pasta after draining to help sauce cling better. Start pancetta in a cold pan for even crispiness. Adjust gochujang amount to control heat. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. For dairy-free, substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast and heavy cream with coconut milk. Pancetta can be swapped with bacon or smoked turkey.

Nutrition

Keywords: gochujang pasta, spicy pasta, pancetta pasta, Korean chili paste, Parmesan pasta, easy weeknight dinner, creamy pasta, crispy pancetta

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/flavorful-gochujang-pasta-recipe-easy-homemade-with-parmesan-and-crispy-pancetta/