If you are on any Korean food corner of social media right now, you have seen it: Marathon Rose Pasta. It is this gorgeous creamy pink pasta that somehow blends Korean, Italian, and Chinese flavors into something that should not work but absolutely does. Rich, slightly spicy, creamy, and comforting in a way that hits different from regular pasta.
I made it last week and my kids demolished it in record time. Let me tell you what it is and how to make it at home.
What Is Marathon Rose Pasta?
The base is a tomato cream sauce, which gives it that signature pink color. Then you add gochujang for that sweet-spicy Korean kick, heavy cream for richness, and a savory base that can include soy sauce and a touch of oyster sauce for that umami bomb. The result is a sauce that is simultaneously creamy, tangy, sweet, spicy, and deeply savory.
Why It Is Going Viral
Marathon Rose Pasta is the perfect gateway dish. If you can make regular pasta, you can make this. Gochujang is available at most supermarkets now, and everything else is standard pantry stuff. The visual appeal helps too: that creamy pink color is gorgeous on camera.
My Recipe
You will need penne pasta, one tablespoon of gochujang, one cup of heavy cream, half a cup of tomato sauce, two cloves of garlic minced, half an onion diced, a tablespoon each of butter and olive oil, a teaspoon of soy sauce, salt and pepper, and parmesan.
Cook pasta and save pasta water. In a large pan, cook onion in butter and olive oil until soft, add garlic for one minute. Add tomato sauce and gochujang, stir and cook two minutes. Add heavy cream and soy sauce, simmer three to four minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Toss in cooked pasta with a splash of pasta water. Serve with parmesan. Twenty minutes start to finish.
Variations I Have Tried
Adding cooked shrimp or chicken makes it heartier. Gochugaru on top gives extra kick. Some people add cream cheese for more richness. Mushrooms sauteed with the onion add earthy depth. For my kids, I use half a tablespoon of gochujang instead of a full one. They call it “pink pasta” and ask for it weekly.
Korean Fusion at Home
What I love about this dish is that it represents the willingness to blend, adapt, and create something new without losing the soul of the original flavors. Korean cooking has always been about balance, and rose pasta applies that philosophy to a completely different culinary tradition. If you are just starting to explore Korean cooking, this is a perfect first recipe.