Sometimes getting dinner on the table means going back to that rudimentary formula of “1+1+1”: meat, vegetable, carb. No fussing. To make that basic dinner arithmetic more exciting, add an exciting sauce, like in this roasted gochujang salmon and cabbage, an excellent pairing for trocken Riesling.
Gochujang—a salty-sweet fermented sauce made with gochugaru chili flakes that’s a pillar of Korean cooking—has risen in the online recipe sphere in recent years, alongside the Korean Wave that’s impacted pop culture and food. While some are putting gochujang in pastas or cookies, there really is no beating gochujang slathered simply over fish or chicken. Sweetened with honey and spiked with rice vinegar, the final sauce is incredibly versatile. It’s good on cabbage, like in this recipe, but also broccoli rabe, carrots, sweet potatoes—you name it.
At this point, is it a cliché to say this spicy dish will go well with Riesling? Probably, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Compared to some other oily fishes, salmon is less fishy, meaning it can pair with a multitude of wines. Here, we’re pairing directly with the gochujang sauce, which is considerably spicy, with a lick of barbecue-like sweetness and fruitiness, as well as an added richness and funk. All of that combined makes for a great match to trocken Riesling, a personal favorite for weeknight dinners. Trocken Rieslings provide enough acid to cut through the sauce, but enough bright golden and tropical fruit to both complement the sweetness and mediate the heat. Not to mention, trockens reliably punch above their weight for value and can often be found for less than $30.
Gochujang Roasted Salmon and Cabbage
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Approximate food costs: $20
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon (cut as steaks or fillets)
- 4 scallions
- 3 tablespoons gochujang
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- ½ head of green or napa cabbage, sliced thinly into large squares
- Optional: Sesame seeds to garnish
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Transfer the salmon to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Salt the salmon flesh liberally and let it rest on the counter for at least 15 minutes, bringing the salmon up to room temperature.
2. Finely slice the scallions, separating the green ends from the white roots. Set the green ends aside to garnish. Add the white sections to a medium-sized bowl, as well as the gochujang, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey and olive oil. Taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to preference. (Some gochujangs can be saltier or hotter than others.)
3. Brush half of the sauce over the salmon. To the remaining sauce, add the cabbage, tossing to coat. Scatter the dressed cabbage around the salmon on the baking sheet and pour any remaining sauce over Roast in the oven for 30 minutes. When done, plate and garnish with the scallion greens and sesame seeds (optional). Serves two.
Recommended German Riesling Pairings, $30 and Under
Read our Germany tasting report on the best wines from the latest vintages for more options.
H. DÖNNHOFF
Riesling Trocken Nahe Schlossböckelheimer 2023
Score: 91 | $30
WS Review: Shows richness, with Golden apple, pear and chamomile wrought in a juicy, succulent style and mouthcoating texture. Radiates sunny warmth then features great precision and cut on the finish, which is dry and cast in mineral notes. Drink now through 2032. 100 cases imported.—Kristen Bieler
SCHLOSS LIESER
Riesling Trocken Mosel SL 2023
Score: 90 | $23
WS Review: Shows juicy ripeness, with kumquat, lychee and apple blossoms filling out the palate, set against a wall of firm slate. Warm spice and chamomile notes add richness, with sharp, lime-edged acidity bringing classic Mosel raciness. Well-done. Drink now through 2028. 150 cases imported.—K.B.
SELBACH-OSTER
Riesling Trocken Mosel 2023
Score: 89 | $20
WS Review: Shows delicacy, with fresh meadow flower, dried apricot and apple notes streaked with herbs and tangy, chalky mineral accents. The subtlest hint of roundness keeps this from being austere throughout the zingy, spicy palate. Drink now through 2030. 200 cases imported.—K.B.
F.A.Q.
What is trocken Riesling?
Trocken Riesling is a dry style of German Riesling, typically crisp, mineral-driven and food-friendly, often offering excellent value.
Can you pair Riesling with spicy food?
Yes. Trocken Riesling offers high acidity and restrained fruit, which helps cool spice while complementing sweetness in sauces like gochujang. Sweet Rieslings, like spätlese, are also a welcome complement to spicy dishes.
Is salmon difficult to pair with wine?
Salmon is extremely versatile and pairs especially well with high-acid whites when served with bold sauces.
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