Spicy gochujang mayo is a condiment our family has became obsessed with recently. The basic version of the sauce requires only 2 ingredients! The sauce will add mild tanginess and rich umami with a bit of kick to your favorite french fries, tuna patties, and so much more. Try it! You will be hooked as well.
What’s in Spicy Gochujang Mayo
In its simplest form of spicy gochujang mayo, you only needs 2 ingredients – mayonnaise and gochujang (Korean chili paste). But if you want to add a bit more complexity in flavor or tone down the creaminess of the mayonnaise, you can do so by adding a bit of lime (or lemon) juice. It adds a nice subtle zing to the sauce while diluting the creaminess of the mayonnaise.
Also, you can add a bit of salt and black peppers to make the taste even more complex. But at the end of the day, the most vital ingredients are mayonnaise and gochujang!
What If You Don’t Have Gochujang
If this is you, you can use sriracha sauce instead. I never recommend sriracha sauce as a universal substitute for gochujang, but in this recipe it works. In fact, the whole spicy mayo concept was fueled by sriracha sauce and mayonnaise.
The Magic Ratio
In my mind, there’s no true magic ratio when it comes to sauce, as everyone’s taste preference is different.
But based on my trial and error, my family’s sweet spot seats at 2 Tbsp mayonnaise to 1/2 tsp ~ 1 tsp gochujang or sriracha sauce. This is where I find all ingredients are in harmony, as in nothing tastes overly salty, spicy or tangy. But you can certainly tone it up or down to accommodate your taste buds.
The more gochujang you add, the more pungent (& spicy) the sauce will become. So I suggest you make small incremental changes (1/4 tsp – 1/2 tsp range) gradually until it meets your satisfaction in your experiment.
How to Make Spicy Gochujang Mayo
Quite simply, combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk well until the sauce turns an evenly tangerine (orange) color.
How to Serve
Feel free to serve the spicy mayo sauce on anything and everything; Where you want to add extra rich umami taste with a bit of spice kick.
But I find that this sauce especially goes well with deep fried or air fried dishes such as panko crumbed tuna patties, chicken schnitzel, french fries, sweet potato fries, fish taco and burgers.
Also, it goes well as a spicy creamy dressing on green salads!
How to Store
Serve the spicy gochujang mayo immediately after making it or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate until needed. It should be good for up to a week. Just give is a good stir before use.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup mayonaise (I mainly use Hellmann’s brand, but Japanese Kewpie mayo works well too.)
- 1 – 2 tsp gochujang (Korean chili paste) or sriracha sauce
- (optional) fine sea salt to taste
- (optional) ground black peppers to taste
- (optional) 1/2 tsp lime juice or lemon juice (use only with regular mayo, not Kewpie mayo)
Steps
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk well until the sauce turns an evenly tangerine (orange) color.
- Serve as a dipping sauce, spread, or dressing sauce (e.g. with tuna patties, schnitzel, french fries or salad).
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Spicy Gochujang Mayo
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 - 2 tsp gochujang (Korean chili paste) or sriracha sauce
- 1/2 tsp lime juice or lemon juice (optional)
- fine sea salt to taste (optional)
- ground black peppers to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and whisk well until the sauce turns and evenly tangerine (orange) color.
- Serve as a dipping sauce, spread, or dressing sauce (e.g. with tuna patties, schnitzel, french fries or salad).
Notes
- For mayonnaise, I mainly use Hellmann's brand, but Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise works well too.
- If adding optional lime or lemon juice, use it only with regular mayonnaise, not Kewpie mayonnaise. I find that Kewpie mayonnaise is slightly tangier than regular mayonnaise.
- You're welcomed to adjust the gochujang quantity to suit your taste. The more gochujang you add, the more pungent and spicy the sauce will become. So I suggest you make a small incremental changes (1/4 tsp - 1/2 tsp range) gradually until it meets your satisfaction.
Nutrition Info (per serving)
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
