What is Tteokbokki? Korea’s Iconic Street Food best 10
Tteokbokki is one of Korea’s most popular street foods, known for its chewy rice cakes and sweet-spicy sauce. With just a few simple ingredients, you can easily make it at home. Today, we will introduce you to a traditional tteokbokki recipe along with some exciting variations.
Ingredients You Need Before Making Tteokbokki
Basic Tteokbokki Ingredients
- 300g tteokbokki rice cakes (garaetteok or wheat-based rice cakes)
- 100g fish cakes (thinly sliced)
- 1 green onion (diagonally sliced)
- 500ml water
- Boiled eggs (optional)
- Sesame seeds, crushed sesame (for garnish)
Tteokbokki Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp corn syrup
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- A pinch of black pepper
How to Make Traditional Tteokbokki
- Prepare the Rice Cakes
- If the rice cakes are hard, soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes.
- Make the Sauce
- In a bowl, mix gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, corn syrup, and minced garlic.
- Prepare the Broth
- Bring 500ml of water to a boil in a pot. Adding anchovies or kelp enhances the flavor.
- Add Rice Cakes and Fish Cakes
- Once the water boils, add the rice cakes and fish cakes. Let them cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
- Add Sauce and Simmer
- Stir in the sauce and mix well. Let it simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes.
- Final Touch and Serving
- Add green onions and let it simmer for another minute. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve hot.
Tteokbokki Variations
1. Cheese Tteokbokki
- Simply top your tteokbokki with mozzarella cheese and microwave for 1 minute for a cheesy delight.
2. Rosé Tteokbokki
- Add 100ml of heavy cream and 100ml of milk while simmering for a creamy, rosé-style tteokbokki.
3. Jjajang Tteokbokki
- Replace gochujang with black bean paste to create a unique and flavorful jjajang tteokbokki.
4. Soupy Tteokbokki
- Increase the water to 700ml for a brothier version, perfect for a cozy meal.
Tips for Making Delicious Tteokbokki
- Soak the rice cakes in water beforehand to prevent them from being too hard.
- Let the sauce sit for a while to develop a deeper flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness and spiciness according to your preference.
Enjoy Homemade Tteokbokki
Tteokbokki is an easy-to-make dish that anyone can enjoy at home. From the classic recipe to creative variations, you can customize it to your liking. Treat yourself to a plate of sweet and spicy tteokbokki for a delightful meal!
