Sounds like a classic italian dish, huh? All kidding aside, this is something I've been cooking a bit recently (summer/fall '25) as a super-lazy cook-from-the-pantry dishes when I don't quite feel like cooking meat and want something slightly hardy yet refreshing. This uses ingredients I always have on hand and takes no time at all making it a perfect weeknight dinner for one.
A while ago I saw this thunbnail for an Internet Shaquille video where he makes a Gochujang + Mezcal penne dish. Gochujang seemed like an awesome addition, so I cached that thought to the back of my memory to be recollected upon someday. Well, a little while ago I just randomly decided to make a pasta alla vodka dish and add gochujang, and realized "wait someone has done this before" and finally watched that video. Good stuff!
A note, I say this is "0 prep time," because I do everything in the span of the water starting to boil. A true no down-time meal.
Prep time: 0 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 100-120g mezze rigatoni
- 1.5 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 onion - any kind, I usually just use white, finely diced
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2oz Shochu - you can also use Vodka or Soju, but the sweetness of shochu is nice
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang
- 3 Tbsp heavy cream
- Parmesan to serve
Directions
- Start salted water boiling, and add mezze rigatoni when ready. This will likely occur while you're making the sauce.
- Very finely dice the onion- borderline bruniose, and add to a hot sautee pan with olive oil
- Sautee on mid-high to high depending on confidence until onion is translucent, and maybe starting to crisp a bit
- Add tomato paste, and let it start to stick to the bottom of the pan. This helps develop a more 'roasted' flavor
- Deglaze with shochu- make sure to do this away from open flames so as not to cause a fire
- Add gochujang and stir to combine. I don't like to do this at too high of a head, so I don't nuke my kitchen
- Add cream and stir to combine, allow not to boil too hard after this so the cream doesn't get curdled.
- Taste and adjust seasoning
- When pasta is ready, add to the sauce and toss to combine, serving with Parmesan on top