Gochujang-Infused Ghee With Toasted Sesame Seeds and Bourbon Recipe

The unlikely combination of spicy gochujang, toasted sesame seeds, and bourbon is shocking delicious.

By
Ideas in Food
Ideas in Food
Contributors
Aki Kamozawa and Alex Talbot are the voices behind the website Ideas in Food and the bakery Curiosity Doughnuts. They are chefs, food writers, photographers, educators, and culinary consultants, and they are here to make your food better.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated February 27, 2025
20140703-ideas-in-food-clam-sauce-MakingGochujangGhee

Serious Eats / Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot

Infused with gochujang (Korean chile paste), toasted sesame seeds, and bourbon, this unlikely flavored ghee (clarified butter) is shocking delicious. It was created as part of a larger clam recipe, but the butter can also be used to sauté fish, or as a poaching liquid and dipping sauce for clams and other seafood. The reserved sesame seeds and nori are reserved and used in the original clam recipe along with the butter, but can also be reserved as a flavorful topping for the cooked fish or seafood.

Recipe Details

Gochujang-Infused Ghee With Toasted Sesame Seeds and Bourbon Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 25 mins
Active 20 mins
Total 30 mins
Makes 1/2 cup
Keep Screen Awake

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup plus 3/4 tablespoon (125 grams) unsalted butter

  • 5 3/4 tablespoons (50 grams) white sesame seeds

  • 4 1/4 tablespoons (60 grams) bourbon

  • 3 tablespoons (50 grams) gochujang (Korean red chile paste; see note)

  • 1/4 ounce (7 grams) teriyaki-flavored nori sheets (see note)

  • 1 tablespoon (15 grams) toasted sesame oil

Directions

  1. In a medium pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sesame seeds and cook, stirring, until seeds and butter have both browned and become nutty and aromatic, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully pour in bourbon; it will sizzle and foam. Return pan to medium heat and cook until alcohol burns off, about 2-3 minutes.

  2. Stir in gochujang and nori. Cook until all the water evaporates and the butter looks like clear red fat with the seeds and nori at the bottom, about 5 minutes. Strain gochujang ghee through a fine mesh sieve, reserving sesame seeds and nori in the refrigerator. Stir sesame oil into gochujang ghee and refrigerate in a covered container until ready to use, up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Gochujang and teriyaki-flavored nori sheets can be found at Asian markets and many specialty food stores.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1633 Calories
141g Fat
54g Carbs
12g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 1633
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 141g 181%
Saturated Fat 69g 344%
Cholesterol 269mg 90%
Sodium 2707mg 118%
Total Carbohydrate 54g 20%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 11mg 57%
Calcium 542mg 42%
Iron 8mg 44%
Potassium 341mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

More Serious Eats Recipes