Spicy Stir-Fried Garlic Scapes with Gochujang
Flavorful and Crispy Young Garlic Scapes with a Spicy-Sweet Gochujang Sauce
Try this delicious side dish made with fresh, young garlic scapes! We’ll lightly blanch them to remove any harshness, then toss them in a savory and sweet gochujang sauce. It’s a healthy, easy-to-make, and satisfying banchan that’s perfect for any meal. Don’t miss out!
Gochujang Sauce
- 1.5 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp Jin-Ganjang (Korean soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Maesilcheong (Plum Extract – can substitute with sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Corn Syrup (can substitute with oligosaccharide or honey)
- 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
Preparing Garlic Scapes
- 200g Young Garlic Scapes
- 1 Tbsp Coarse Salt (for blanching)
- 200g Young Garlic Scapes
- 1 Tbsp Coarse Salt (for blanching)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the star of our dish: the gochujang sauce! For easy measuring, use 1.5 tablespoons of gochujang and 1 tablespoon each of all other sauce ingredients. If you don’t have maesilcheong, regular sugar works just fine. Similarly, you can swap corn syrup for oligosaccharide or honey for a delightful sweetness.
Step 2
Whisk the sauce ingredients together. Add the toasted sesame seeds and let the mixture sit for a few minutes, allowing the gochugaru to soften and meld into the sauce. Preparing the sauce in advance is a great time-saver, as it will be ready by the time you finish trimming and blanching the garlic scapes.
Step 3
Now, let’s prepare the garlic scapes. Trim off any tough ends or flower buds from the scapes. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, about 3-4 cm long. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil, add the coarse salt, and carefully add the prepared garlic scapes. Blanch them for just 30 seconds to 1 minute – you want them tender-crisp, not mushy! Immediately drain the scapes and rinse them under cold running water to stop the cooking process and maintain their vibrant green color and crisp texture.
Step 4
Gently squeeze out any excess water from the blanched garlic scapes. Transfer them to a bowl with the prepared gochujang sauce. Using your hands, gently toss and mix the scapes with the sauce until evenly coated. Be careful not to break the tender scapes.
Step 5
And there you have it – a deliciously fragrant and perfectly seasoned spicy stir-fried garlic scapes! This simple yet flavorful banchan is ready to be enjoyed with your favorite meals.
