Translation result.
Avocados usually show up in brunch plates and other Western-style dishes, so you don’t often see them in traditional Korean recipes. But their rich, nutty flavor makes them a perfect fit for Korean-fusion cooking.
Chef Raymond Kim recommends using avocado in classic yakgochujang. His “Avocado Beef Yakgochujang” turns the usual spicy-salty paste into something softer and creamier. “Avocado in the sauce keeps the dish moist and adds depth,” he says. “It also tames the boldness of meats like pork or beef, which is perfect for a beef yakgochujang.”
Make a batch and you’ll find endless uses: mix it into bibimbap, stir some into ssamjang, dollop it over a rice bowl, or use it as a dipping sauce for grilled meats. Because avocado brings a buttery richness, it slips easily into Western dishes too—think a mildly spicy cream sauce whenever you want a little kick.
To make it: combine 7 tablespoons gochujang, 2 tablespoons maesil (plum) syrup, 2 tablespoons oligosaccharide, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon mirin to make the gochujang seasoning. Quickly blanch the ground beef to remove excess fat. Mash the avocado or puree it in a blender. In a pan, sauté the mashed avocado, onion, and shiitake mushrooms in sesame oil; add garlic and the blanched beef. Stir in the gochujang seasoning, add diced avocado, and stir-fry briefly. If you like extra heat, sprinkle in finely ground red pepper. Finish with a drizzle of sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Chef Kim also suggests trying “Avocado Cheese Tonkatsu.” It’s a triple threat of savory flavors: top a pork loin with avocado and mozzarella, roll it up, then bread and fry. “Avocado’s rich yet clean profile pairs beautifully with meat,” he says.
South Korea imports all of its avocados, so you can find them year-round at the grocery store, but harvest seasons vary by growing region. California avocados are at their best from May through July, when their fat content—and flavor—peaks.
Chef Kim recommends using avocados regularly as an easy way to boost unsaturated fats in your diet.
Avocado was front and center when “superfood” lists first caught on. In 2002, Time named avocado one of the world’s top 10 superfoods. It’s nutrient-dense and packed with dietary fiber, potassium, vitamins E and K, and folate. By Seong-yeon Yuk
Most Commented