Spicy and Sweet Tteokbokki (Korean Rice Cakes)
The Ultimate Tteokbokki Recipe: Just Like Your Favorite Snack Bar!
A beloved Korean comfort food, tteokbokki is a must-try! This recipe makes it easy to recreate that addictive spicy and sweet flavor at home, just like you’d find at a street food stall. Enjoy the delightful chewy rice cakes, savory fish cakes, and crisp green onions that come together for a satisfying dish. Perfect for a quick meal or a comforting snack anytime!
Tteokbokki Ingredients- 400g Tteokbokki rice cakes (tteok)
- 3 sheets of square fish cake (eomuk)
- 2 stalks of green onion
- 500ml water (about 2 cups)
Flavorful Sauce Mix- 5.5 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp Salt (or soy sauce/fish sauce can be used)
- 0.5 Tbsp MSG (optional, for enhanced umami)
- 0.2 tsp Black pepper (about 1/5 tsp)
- 5 Tbsp Corn syrup (for gloss and sweetness)
- 3 Tbsp Water (to adjust sauce consistency)
- 5.5 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1.5 Tbsp Sugar
- 0.5 Tbsp Salt (or soy sauce/fish sauce can be used)
- 0.5 Tbsp MSG (optional, for enhanced umami)
- 0.2 tsp Black pepper (about 1/5 tsp)
- 5 Tbsp Corn syrup (for gloss and sweetness)
- 3 Tbsp Water (to adjust sauce consistency)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Before you begin, please check and prepare all your ingredients. If the rice cakes are stuck together, you can lightly rinse them under cold water to separate them. Cut the square fish cakes into bite-sized pieces, about 2-3 cm wide, and diagonally slice the green onions into 5-6 cm lengths for a visually appealing presentation.
Step 2
The key to delicious tteokbokki is the sauce! In a bowl, combine the gochugaru, sugar, salt, MSG (if using), black pepper, corn syrup, and 3 tablespoons of water. Stir thoroughly with a spoon until the sauce is smooth and lump-free. Making the sauce ahead of time will save you precious cooking minutes.
Step 3
Pour 500ml of water into a wide and deep pot or wok. Using a sufficiently large cooking vessel will ensure the tteokbokki cooks evenly.
Step 4
Add the prepared sauce mix to the pot with the water. Stir with a spoon to dissolve the sauce evenly, ensuring it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Step 5
Now it’s time to add the rice cakes! Add all 400g of the prepared rice cakes into the sauce mixture. Gently loosen them so they don’t clump together, then turn on the stove to medium heat. Adding the rice cakes before turning on the heat allows them to cook and absorb the sauce beautifully.
Step 6
Once the sauce starts to bubble vigorously, it’s a sign that the rice cakes are beginning to soften. At this point, add the prepared green onions and stir gently to incorporate them into the sauce. The fresh flavor of the green onions will infuse into the broth, making it even more delicious.
Step 7
Check if the rice cakes are tender (you can test this by piercing one with a chopstick or tasting it). Once tender, add the prepared square fish cakes. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the fish cakes to absorb the flavorful sauce.
Step 8
Continue to simmer for another 2-3 minutes, or until the rice cakes and fish cakes are fully cooked and the sauce has reached your desired thickness. If it’s too thick, add a little more water; if it’s too thin, let it simmer a bit longer. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade tteokbokki!
