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Illustration: Tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes
Korean recipe

Tteokbokki

Spicy rice cakes

떡볶이 tteokbokki

Tteokbokki (떡볶이) is one of Korea's best-loved street foods: chewy rice cake cylinders in a red, sweet and spicy sauce, sold at markets and stalls across the country.

30 min2 servingsSpicy

Ingredients

11 ingredients

Can’t find a Korean ingredient? Use the substitute we suggest.

  • Tteok (떡), rice cake cylinders for tteokbokki400 g

    At your store: Packaged potato gnocchi: softer, so add them in the last 3 minutes. For more chew, make homemade tteok from rice flour and boiling water, cooked in the microwave and kneaded.

  • Eomuk (어묵), fish cake sheets2 sheets (100 g)

    At your store: Surimi sticks (kanikama) or extra boiled egg. You can also skip it.

  • Water or anchovy stock2 1/2 cups (600 ml)

    At your store: Water with 1 tsp instant dashi powder, or plain water.

  • Gochujang (고추장), Korean chili paste3 tbsp

    At your store: For each tablespoon: 2 tsp miso, 1 tsp sriracha or ground chili and 1/2 tsp honey. Miso is saltier, so taste and adjust.

  • Gochutgaru (고춧가루), Korean chili flakes1 tbsp

    At your store: Mexico: ground guajillo chile, with similar color and heat. Brazil: 4 parts sweet paprika to 1 part ground pimenta calabresa. Add heat little by little.

  • Sugar1 1/2 tbsp
  • Soy sauce1 tsp
  • Minced garlic2 cloves
  • Shredded cabbage (optional)1 cup
  • Green onions2 stalks
  • Hard-boiled eggs2

Steps

  1. Step 1:

    If the tteok are hard or straight from the fridge, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes.

  2. Step 2:

    In a deep pan, combine the water, gochujang, chili flakes, sugar, soy sauce and garlic. Stir and bring to a boil.

  3. Step 3:

    Add the tteok, the fish cake cut into triangles and the cabbage.

  4. Step 4:

    Cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often so nothing sticks, until the sauce is thick and glossy.

  5. Step 5:

    Add the peeled eggs and the green onion cut into pieces. Cook for 2 more minutes.

  6. Step 6:

    Serve right away. The sauce thickens as it cools, so add a splash of water if it gets dry.

Tip

If you use gnocchi, let the sauce thicken first and add them only in the last 3 minutes. In Korea it is also common to finish with a slice of cheese on top.

Sources