Royal Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Beef (Gungjung Tteokbokki)
Delicious Royal Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Bulgogi Beef: A Kid-Friendly Side Dish
Does your child love rice cakes but shy away from meat? Try this Royal Stir-Fried Rice Cakes! It’s packed with flavorful bulgogi beef and colorful vegetables, making it a nutritious and appealing side dish that even picky eaters will enjoy. The savory-sweet soy sauce base is mild and perfect for children who can’t handle spicy food.
Main Ingredients- Beef (for bulgogi or ground beef) 200g
- Rice cakes (for tteokbokki) 200g
- Carrot 1/4 medium
- Onion 1/4 medium
- Shiitake mushroom 1/2 (or Shogyo mushroom)
Beef Marinade- Soy sauce 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 0.5 Tbsp
- Sugar 1 Tbsp
- Oligosaccharide 1 Tbsp
- Chopped green onion 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 1 Tbsp
- Sesame oil 1 Tbsp
- Minced garlic 0.5 Tbsp
- Sugar 1 Tbsp
- Oligosaccharide 1 Tbsp
- Chopped green onion 1 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the star ingredients: beef and rice cakes, along with the vegetables. If using shiitake mushrooms, consider substituting with Shogyo mushrooms, which have a milder flavor that children often prefer. We’ll be using basic Korean pantry staples like soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and green onions for a balanced taste.
Step 2
Peel and thinly julienne the onion and carrot. Trim the stems from the shiitake mushrooms and slice them thinly into pieces. Slicing them this way helps retain a pleasant texture and visual appeal when stir-fried.
Step 3
If your rice cakes are stiff, soak them in warm water for about 5 minutes to soften them. Once softened, drain the water and gently toss the rice cakes with 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. This pre-seasoning adds a lovely depth of flavor to the rice cakes themselves. (Tip: This step also makes them taste fantastic even when added to a spicy red tteokbokki sauce!)
Step 4
You can use thinly sliced beef meant for bulgogi or ground beef for easier eating. In a bowl, combine the beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 0.5 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon oligosaccharide, and 1 tablespoon chopped green onion. Mix well to marinate the beef and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the flavors.
Step 5
Heat a little cooking oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of chopped green onion and sauté until fragrant. Once the green onion releases its aroma, add the julienned onions and carrots and stir-fry. When the carrots begin to soften slightly, add the marinated beef. Use chopsticks or a spatula to break up the beef as it cooks.
Step 6
As the beef starts to turn opaque, the vegetables will release moisture, creating a natural broth. Continue to stir and break up the beef to ensure it cooks evenly.
Step 7
Once the beef is fully cooked, add the seasoned rice cakes directly into the pan. Give the rice cakes a quick stir before adding them to ensure any settled marinade is included.
Step 8
Finally, gently toss everything together – the rice cakes, beef, and vegetables – as if mixing them, and stir-fry for another 1-2 minutes until everything is coated in a glossy glaze. Your delicious Royal Stir-Fried Rice Cakes are ready to serve!
