Nutrition facts · Herbs and spices
Calories in Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) has 318 calories per 100 g, and a 1 tbsp serving (5.3 g) has 17 calories. Most of its calories come from carbohydrates, at 56.6 g per 100 g, much of which is fiber (27.2 g), with fat (17.3 g) contributing a meaningful share too.
Calories come from: Carbs 53% · Fat 36% · Protein 11%
Common servings
| Serving | Weight | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 g | 100 g | 318 kcal | 12 g | 56.6 g | 17.3 g |
| 1 tbsp | 5.3 g | 17 kcal | 0.6 g | 3 g | 0.9 g |
| 1 tsp | 1.8 g | 6 kcal | 0.2 g | 1 g | 0.3 g |
Full nutrition (Per 100 g)
| Calories | 318 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12 g |
| Carbohydrates | 56.6 g |
| of which sugars | 10.3 g |
| Fiber | 27.2 g |
| Fat | 17.3 g |
| of which saturated | 3.3 g |
| Sodium | 30 mg |
What changes the calories
- Because gochugaru is used by the spoonful, the amount you actually sprinkle matters far more than its calories per 100 g.
- Heaping versus level spoons can noticeably change the weight of a serving, since the flakes are light and pack loosely.
- Gochugaru cooked into dishes like kimchi, stews or sauces adds the same calories as dry flakes, but the oil, sugar or paste it is mixed with usually adds far more.
- Gochujang, the fermented chili paste, is a different product from gochugaru, so its calories should not be assumed to be the same.
Tips for logging it accurately
- For small amounts, log by the spoon (1 tsp or 1 tbsp) rather than guessing grams, and use level measurements when you can.
- If you add gochugaru to a recipe, log the oil, sugar and other ingredients separately, since they usually carry most of the calories.
- In BerryFit, add gochugaru as its own ingredient when scanning a meal so the seasoning isn't missed or mixed up with a sauce.
Log Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) in seconds
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Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in 1 tsp of gochugaru?
One teaspoon (1.8 g) of gochugaru has about 6 calories, with 1 g of carbs, 0.2 g of protein and 0.3 g of fat.
Is gochugaru high in calories?
Per 100 g it is fairly calorie-dense at 318 calories, but typical servings are tiny, so 1 tbsp adds only 17 calories.
Is gochugaru the same as regular chili flakes for calories?
They are very close: both are listed at 318 calories per 100 g. Chili powder is a bit lower at 282 calories per 100 g, as it is often a blend of spices.
Does gochugaru have carbs?
Yes, it has 56.6 g of carbs per 100 g, including 27.2 g of fiber and 10.3 g of sugar. A tablespoon has about 3 g of carbs.
Similar foods
Calories in common foodsValues per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central (Spices, pepper, red or cayenne, FDC ID 170932); servings use USDA portion weights. Real foods vary by variety, ripeness and preparation.
The text on this page was written with the help of AI (Anthropic's Claude) and checked against the numbers in a separate review. The numbers themselves come only from USDA.
