Hot Pepper Sauce (Korean Ssamjang)

Ssamjang - also known as Ssam Sauce - is best known as a dipping sauce that accompanies lettuce wraps for Korean BBQ. In food terms, ssam means wraps or wrapped food, and jang is a collective term for Korean fermented condiments, such as doenjang, gochujang and ganjang. Technically, ssamjang is any sauce that's used for ssam. While there are many different types, it's typically made with doenjang and/or gochujang as well as some other ingredients. The mixture is primarily used at the table as a sauce for vegetable wraps or as a dipping sauce for fresh vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, and chili peppers.

Basic Ssamjang:
2 Tbsp. doenjang (Korean fermented soy bean paste)
1 Tbsp. Gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste)
1 tsp. garlic, minced
½ Tbsp. sugar, honey or oligodang
2 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp. sesame seeds
1-2 Tbsp. water or rice wine to thin the sauce

Optional Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. scallion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. shallots, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, with seeds, finely chopped
½ Tbsp. green chili pepper, finely chopped
½ Tbsp. red chili pepper, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. nuts, such as; almonds, walnuts, peanuts, chopped

Combine all the ingredients and mix well until everything is well incorporated.

If using optional ingredients, prepare the ingredients, combine and mix everything well.

Makes 4 servings.