Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes)

Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes)

Tteokbokki is a beloved Korean street food that’s easy to make at home. With its chewy rice cakes coated in a spicy, savory sauce, this dish is perfect for a quick snack, a casual meal, or even as a party dish. Enjoy the bold flavors and comforting texture of this Korean classic!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
Total Time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (450g) Korean rice cakes (tteok)

• 4 cups water or dashi broth

• 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red chili paste)

• 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes) (optional, for extra spice)

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

• 1/2 cup fish cakes, sliced (optional)

• 2 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces

• 1 hard-boiled egg, halved (optional)

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional)

• Toasted sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Rice Cakes: If your rice cakes are frozen or hard, soak them in warm water for 10-15 minutes to soften them. Drain and set aside.

2. Make the Sauce: In a large pan or skillet, combine the water or dashi broth with the gochujang, gochugaru (if using), soy sauce, sugar, and minced garlic. Stir well to dissolve the gochujang and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.

3. Add the Rice Cakes and Vegetables: Once the sauce is simmering, add the rice cakes, sliced onions, and fish cakes (if using). Stir well to coat everything in the sauce.

4. Simmer: Let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice cakes are soft and chewy and the sauce has thickened. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add a little more water or broth to achieve your desired consistency.

5. Add Green Onions and Eggs: In the last few minutes of cooking, add the green onions and hard-boiled eggs (if using). Stir gently to combine.

6. Finish and Serve: Drizzle with sesame oil for extra flavor, and garnish with toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot.

Tips:

• Variations: Feel free to add other ingredients like cabbage, carrots, or ramen noodles (for rabokki) to make the dish more filling.

• Adjusting Spice: Tteokbokki is traditionally spicy, but you can adjust the level of heat by reducing or omitting the gochugaru or using less gochujang.

• Serving Suggestions: Tteokbokki is often enjoyed with a side of kimchi or other banchan (Korean side dishes).