Ssamjang pasta, unique Korean-Italian fusion recipe made with the condiment Ssamjang. The pasta gets a very unique umami taste from the fermented bean paste, which pairs beautiful pasta creating a thick creamy sauce with the garlic, parmesan and milk.
Bring lots of water to a full boil. Add in salt and pasta into the hot water. Cook until package directions. Meanwhile start making the sauce.
In a separate pan, add in butter. Now add in garlic and ssamjang. Stir fry for couple of minutes. Now add in red pepper powder, salt, black pepper powder and mix well. Reduce the flame to a low, Pour in milk while mixing constantly. Once the milk is mixed into the sauce. Add in parmesan cheese and mix well.
Now the pasta must be cooked, take the pasta from the boiling water using some tongs and add directly into the sauce. Pour in a ladleful of pasta cooking water. Toss it well into the sauce so it emulsifies.
Now serve pasta with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, spring onions and parmesan cheese.
Notes
Expert Tips
If you don’t have ssamjang, you can swap it for miso paste along with some chopped onions and gochujang.
Finish the pasta with green onions, toasted sesame seeds for nutty touch.
Make sure to reserve pasta water to loosen the pasta as needed.