Gochujang Aubergine Focaccia (Gochujang Eggplant Focaccia)

This is gochujang aubergine focaccia is truly outstanding. One of my favourite ways of cooking aubergine (or eggplant, to my American friends) is cutting it into thick slices, roasting it until golden on the outside and soft and squidgy in the middle, and finishing it with a sticky glaze. In this case, it’s a gochujang glaze and it pairs beautifully with the creamy, crunchy slaw. Load it all up into a fluffy focaccia and you’ve got yourself an epic sandwich.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Ingredient Breakdown
• Preparing Your Aubergine
• What’s Gochujang?
• Focaccia Forever
• Where to Shop
• Want More Gochujang Recipes?

Introduction

This Gochujang Aubergine Focaccia is a delicious sandwich that combines bold Korean flavours with the comforting texture of focaccia. The combination of roasted aubergine with a sticky gochujang glaze and a creamy, crunchy slaw creates a sandwich that is both satisfying and full of flavour. Whether you’re a fan of aubergine or looking to try something new, this dish is sure to impress. Let’s explore what makes this recipe so special, starting with a breakdown of the ingredients.

Ingredient Breakdown

• Aubergines (Eggplants): Provide a tender and flavourful base for the dish.
• Vegetable Oil: Used for roasting the aubergines, enhancing their flavour and aiding in browning.
• Mayonnaise: Forms the creamy base of the slaw dressing.
• Rice Vinegar: Adds a tangy brightness to the slaw dressing.
• Sugar: Balances the flavours in the slaw.
• White Cabbage: Thinly sliced for a crisp and fresh slaw.
• Fresh Coriander: Adds a fresh, herbal flavour to the slaw.
• Red Chilli: Adds heat and complexity to the slaw.
• Gochujang: A spicy Korean red pepper paste that adds depth and heat to the glaze.
• Light Soy Sauce: Adds a salty, umami flavour to the glaze.
• Agave Nectar or Honey: Adds sweetness and helps caramelise the aubergine.
• Garlic: Adds a pungent and aromatic kick to the glaze.
• Focaccia: A fluffy and flavourful bread that holds all the ingredients together.

Preparing Your Aubergine

Aubergine is a versatile vegetable that can be prepared in many ways. For this recipe, you slice the aubergines into thick rounds, then roast them until golden on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. Roasting aubergine helps to concentrate its flavour and create a delicious, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Here are some tips for preparing your aubergine:

• Choose the Right Aubergine: Look for aubergines that are firm to the touch and have a shiny, smooth skin. Avoid any that have soft spots or blemishes.
• Slice Evenly: Slice the aubergine into 4cm thick rounds to ensure they cook evenly.
• Season Well: Drizzle the aubergine slices with vegetable oil and season with salt before roasting. This helps to enhance their flavour and promote browning.

What’s Gochujang?

Gochujang is a staple ingredient in Korean cuisine. It’s a fermented red pepper paste made from red chilli powder, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. This paste is known for its deep, spicy flavour and a hint of sweetness, which comes from the fermentation process. Gochujang adds a complex heat to dishes, making it a perfect addition to marinades, sauces, and glazes. Its versatility and unique flavour profile have made it a popular ingredient in kitchens around the world. In this recipe, you combine gochujang with soy sauce, agave nectar and garlic to create a sticky glaze that perfectly complements the roasted aubergine.

Focaccia Forever

Focaccia is a traditional Italian flatbread with a crispy crust and soft, airy interior. This versatile bread is typically flavoured with olive oil, salt, and sometimes herbs like rosemary. Originating from Liguria, Italy, focaccia has a rich history and is enjoyed in various forms across the country. Its spongy texture makes it perfect for absorbing flavours, which is why it works so well in this recipe. When selecting your focaccia, opt for a fresh loaf that is fluffy on the inside with a golden, slightly crisp exterior. The bread’s ability to soak up the gochujang glaze and the juices from the slaw without becoming soggy makes it an excellent choice for this sandwich.

This sandwich is a perfect example of how you can use focaccia to create a fusion dish that combines the best of Italian and Korean cuisines. The bread’s neutral flavour allows the boldness of the gochujang-glazed aubergine and the fresh crunch of the slaw to shine through, making each bite a delightful experience.

Gochujang Aubergine Focaccia Serving Suggestions

You can serve this Gochujang Aubergine Focaccia as a main course for lunch or dinner. It’s perfect on its own or paired with a simple green salad. For an extra touch of flavour, you can garnish the sandwich with additional fresh coriander or a sprinkle of sesame seeds. The rich, umami flavours of the gochujang glaze make this sandwich a standout dish that pairs well with a variety of sides.

Where to Shop

You should be able to find most ingredients in this recipe in your local grocery store, except gochujang, which may require a trip to your nearest Asian grocery store. If you have difficulty finding it locally, many online retailers stock gochujang, among other Asian groceries.

When it comes to the focaccia, look for a fresh, fluffy loaf to use as the base of your sandwich, whether at a grocery store or your nearest bakery.

Want More Gochujang Recipes?

If you’ve bought a tub of gochujang for this recipe and you don’t know what to do with it next, why not try one of these recipes?

• Gochujang Butter Onions: adapted from Ottolenghi’s miso butter onions, this recipe transforms the humble onion into something incredibly delicious with just three ingredients: gochujang, butter and water.
• Gochujang Charred Cabbage: charred hispi cabbage, topped with a deliciously garlicky gochujang-based sauce and served over rice – it’s absolutely delicious!
• Spicy Pork Noodles: this dish is inspired by two delicious Korean dishes: japchae, a delicious sweet potato noodle stir fry, and jeyuk bokkeum, spicy stir fried pork.

This Gochujang Aubergine Focaccia is a delicious and versatile sandwich that brings the bold flavours of Korean cuisine in a focaccia sandwich. Enjoy the rich, and spicy flavours, and savour every bite of this culinary delight.