Vegetable-Packed Soy Sauce Tteokbokki
A Delicious and Nutritious Royal Tteokbokki without Meat, Loaded with Vegetables
This is not your typical spicy tteokbokki! It’s a delightful rice cake dish featuring a generous amount of vegetables, making you wonder if it’s vegetable stir-fry with rice cakes or vice-versa. The abundance of fresh veggies combined with the chewy texture of gara-tteok (long, cylindrical rice cakes) creates a unique and flavorful experience that’s mildly sweet and savory, perfect for all ages, including children. It’s a fantastic and nutritious side dish option.
Main Ingredients- Gara-tteok (long, cylindrical rice cakes) 1-2 strings (approx. 300g)
- Fish cakes (square type) 150g
- Bell pepper 1 (using different colors makes it more visually appealing!)
- Onion 1/2
- Blanched broccoli a little (optional, adds color and texture)
- Sesame oil a little (for nutty aroma)
- Black sesame seeds a little (for garnish)
- Sesame seeds a little (for garnish)
Savory Soy Sauce Seasoning- Grapeseed oil or cooking oil 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 2 Tbsp (using this instead of soup soy sauce adds rich umami)
- Soup soy sauce 1/2 Tbsp (adds a deep savory flavor)
- Plum extract or onion syrup 3 Tbsp (provides a subtle sweetness and depth)
- Hot sauce 1 Tbsp (adds a hint of spice, making it kid-friendly)
- Honey 1 Tbsp (for a glossy finish and smooth sweetness)
- Minced garlic 1 Tbsp (enhances the overall flavor)
- Grapeseed oil or cooking oil 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce 2 Tbsp (using this instead of soup soy sauce adds rich umami)
- Soup soy sauce 1/2 Tbsp (adds a deep savory flavor)
- Plum extract or onion syrup 3 Tbsp (provides a subtle sweetness and depth)
- Hot sauce 1 Tbsp (adds a hint of spice, making it kid-friendly)
- Honey 1 Tbsp (for a glossy finish and smooth sweetness)
- Minced garlic 1 Tbsp (enhances the overall flavor)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Prepare the ingredients: Briefly blanch the square fish cakes in boiling water to remove any impurities, then slice them into bite-sized pieces (about 2cm wide). Slice the gara-tteok similarly to tteokbokki cakes and soak them in water to prevent sticking. Slice the bell pepper and onion into strips or dice them coarsely. If using blanched broccoli, cut it into bite-sized florets.
Step 2
2. Make the delicious soy sauce seasoning and stir-fry: Heat 1 Tbsp of grapeseed oil in a pan. Add all the seasoning ingredients (soy sauce, soup soy sauce, plum extract/onion syrup, hot sauce, honey, minced garlic) and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once the sauce starts boiling, add the sliced fish cakes and onions first and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes to let them absorb the flavors. Then, add the gara-tteok, bell pepper, and broccoli. Continue to stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, ensuring everything is evenly coated with the sauce. Cook until the rice cakes are soft and the vegetables are lightly tender.
Step 3
3. Finish with aromatic touches: Just before turning off the heat, drizzle in a little sesame oil and sprinkle with black sesame seeds and regular sesame seeds. This adds a wonderful aroma and nutty flavor, making the dish even more delightful.
Step 4
4. How to enjoy: This finished soy sauce tteokbokki is perfect as a kid-friendly snack, a satisfying meal, or a special side dish. It’s also delicious served alongside rice!
