Spicy-Sweet Gochujang Roasted Carrots

A simple, sheet pan side with a Korean twist.  Delicious Gochujang Roasted Carrots with a spicy-sweet, Korean-inspired Gochujang glaze! A delicious, easy recipe that’s on the table in 30 minutes.

Gochujang Roasted Carrots

For a classic side dish with a twist — try spicy-sweet Gochujang Roasted Carrots.

Easy preparation. Asian pantry ingredients. And so incredibly tasty — you’ll want to eat them straight off the sheet pan!

An effortless and elegant side that perfectly combines earthy, sweet-roasted carrots with the intense, fiery heat of Gochujang. The sticky, sweet glaze and crispy, caramelized ends make these especially delicious!

Gochujang glazed Carrots, platter

What is Gochujang?

Gochujang is Korean Chili Paste. A fermented food item, it’s full of rich, spicy-sweet, umami flavor. Gochujang can be added to stews and soups as a thickener. It also makes a great glaze or sauce.

Look for Gochujang at the Korean market in plastic tubs or glass jars. Sometimes, there’s a spicy level from 1-5 but not always. You can also find it at regular grocery stores in the Asian food aisle or even on Amazon.

tub of Gochujang on cutting board

Ingredients:

  • Carrots. Choose either trimmed whole carrots or large carrots cut into same-sized strips. Heirloom multi-colored carrots taste especially good and make for a beautiful presentation.
  • Gochujang. Korean chili paste that’s spicy-sweet and full of rich flavor. Lasts a long time in the fridge like sriracha or ketchup.
  • Soy Sauce. For umami-rich, deep flavor.
  • Rice Vinegar. Adds tangy, sharp flavor. Can be subbed with regular white vinegar.
  • Honey. For glazy, syrupy sweetness. To make it vegan, swap with maple syrup.
  • Ginger. Freshly minced ginger add spicy freshness. A classic pairing with carrots.
  • Sesame Oil. Drizzle right before serving for an aromatic, nutty aroma.
  • Sesame Seeds + Parsley. Optional garnish. Adds color and texture.
Gochujang roasted carrots, sheet pan

Instructions:

  1. Prep carrots. Place carrots (ends trimmed) on a large sheet pan. Add salt, pepper, and oil. Mix together with hands until every carrot is evenly coated.
  2. Roast carrots. Roast at 425F until 80% cooked, but not completely soft, about 12-15 min.  (Test the carrots by sliding a knife into one. The carrots should not be rock hard but have a little give.)
  3. Make glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients.  
  4. Add glaze. Drizzle glaze over carrots. Toss with a spatula.  Roast until the carrot are soft and the sauce has caramelized, about 5-8 minutes.  Watch the pan carefully here!  The glaze burns easily!
  5. Serve and enjoy. Remove from the sheet pan and onto a serving dish.  Garnish with sesame seeds.  Serve immediately or at room temperature.  

PRO Tips:

  • Adjust spice level. Gochujang comes in spicy levels ranging from 1-5. For my recipes, I use medium spicy Gochujang flavor, level 3. If you prefer less spicy, choose 1 or 2.
  • Use parchment paper. The glaze is sticky and easily burns. For easier cleanup, use parchment paper.
  • Keep an eye on the glaze. The glaze will reduce significantly.  Watch carefully in the last 5 minutes so it doesn’t burn too much.

Helpful Kitchen Tools:

  • Sheet Pan. A high-quality rimmed sheet pan will make roasting the carrots easy and flavorful. Roasting at high heat will intensify the sweet flavor of carrots and reduce the glaze into a syrupy, salty-sweet coating.

Serve with:

Serve as an easy side with rice and simple grilled chicken, pork, fish, or beef.

More recipes with Gochujang:

More easy sides:

Gochujang Roasted Carrots, platter

Gochujang Roasted Carrots

The Subversive Table | Lis Lam
A simple, sheet pan side with a Korean twist.  Gochujang Roasted Carrots with a spicy-sweet, Korean-inspired Gochujang glaze! A delicious, easy recipe that's on the table in 30 minutes.
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Korean
Servings 4 as side
Calories 105 kcal

Equipment

  • Sheet Pan (13" x 9")
  • Parchment Paper
  • Large spatula

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb carrots ends trimmed
  • 1 Tbsp oil (grapeseed, vegetable, or canola)

Glaze:

  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean fermented chili paste)
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 1 inch piece ginger minced

Garnish:

  • sesame oil
  • sesame seeds
  • parsley

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425F/220C.
  • Prep carrots. Cut carrots into similar-sized long strips. There’s no need to peel the carrots if they are scrubbed well.
  • Arrange on sheet pan. Place carrots on a sheet pan, in a single layer.  DO NOT overcrowd the pan!  Drizzle with oil. Mix together with hands until every carrot is evenly coated.
  • Roast carrots. Cook in oven until the carrots are 80% cooked, about 12-15 min. Test the carrots by sliding a knife into one; there should be some give but not too much.
  • Make glaze. In a small bowl, whisk glaze ingredients until well combined.
  • Add glaze. Remove the sheet pan from the oven and drizzle the glaze on top. It will be watery.  Gently toss with a spatula until carrots are well coated. Return to oven until the carrot are soft and the sauce has reduced and caramelized, about 5-8 minutes.  
  • Serve and enjoy. Transfer to a serving dish. Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds and parsley. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Notes

PRO tips:
  • Adjust spice level. Gochujang comes in spicy levels ranging from 1-5. For my recipes, I use medium spicy Gochujang flavor, level 3. If you prefer less spicy, choose 1 or 2.
  • Use parchment paper. The glaze is sticky and easily burns. For easier cleanup, use parchment paper.
  • Keep an eye on the glaze. The glaze will reduce significantly.  Watch carefully in the last 5 minutes so it doesn’t burn too much.

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCalories: 105kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 582mgPotassium: 407mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 18952IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Gochujang, Roasted Carrots, Sheet pan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
30 minutes, All Recipes, Dinner with Friends, Gochujang, Holiday, Korean, Sheet Pan, Side, Weeknight Meals

2 Comments

  1. Pingback: Gochujang Chicken Drumsticks - The Subversive Table

  2. these sound great, what a tasty twist!

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