When I talk with students about Korean food, one dish that always comes up as a favorite is "떡볶이"(tteokbokki). I also enjoy tteokbokki, but I can't handle food that's too spicy!
Today, I'd like to introduce you to a recipe for one of Korea's most iconic street foods, tteokbokki. Known for its perfect balance of spicy and sweet flavors, tteokbokki is a dish that's easy to make at home with simple ingredients. In this post, I'll walk you through a basic tteokbokki recipe and also show you some ways to customize it. Ready to start?
1. Ingredients (Serves 2)
- 떡볶이 떡 (Tteokbokki rice cakes): 250g
- 어묵 (Fish cakes): 2 sheets (square fish cakes work best)
- 대파 (Green onion): 1/2 stalk (sliced diagonally)
- 물 (Water): 2 cups (about 400ml)
- 설탕 (Sugar): 1 tablespoon
- 간장 (Soy sauce): 1 tablespoon
- 고추장 (Gochujang, Korean red chili paste): 2 tablespoons
- 고춧가루 (Gochugaru, Korean red chili flakes): 1 tablespoon
- 다진 마늘 (Minced garlic): 1 teaspoon
- 참기름 (Sesame oil): a small amount (optional)
- 깨 (Sesame seeds): a small amount (optional)
2. How to Make Basic Tteokbokki
1. Prepare the rice cakes
If you're using frozen rice cakes, soak them in cold water for about 10 minutes to soften them. This helps the rice cakes cook evenly.
2. Prepare the fish cakes
Cut the fish cakes into bite-sized pieces. You can slice them into triangles or rectangles, whichever you prefer.
3. Make the sauce
In a bowl, mix together the gochujang, gochugaru, sugar, soy sauce, and minced garlic. Add a little water to adjust the consistency, so the sauce mixes evenly.
4. Cook the tteokbokki
In a pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the sauce and let it simmer for a moment.
Then, add the rice cakes and fish cakes to the pot. Cook over medium heat for about 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the rice cakes absorb the sauce evenly.
5. Add the green onions
When the rice cakes are almost done, add the sliced green onions and stir. The green onion will enhance the flavor of the tteokbokki.
6. Final touches
Once the rice cakes are fully cooked and the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat. If you'd like, drizzle some sesame oil and sprinkle sesame seeds on top for extra flavor.
3. Tips to Make Tteokbokki Even Tastier
Cheese Tteokbokki:
After cooking, top the tteokbokki with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese and let it melt. The creamy and savory addition makes it even more delicious!
Rabokki (라볶이):
Add ramen noodles to the tteokbokki for a variation called rabokki. To keep the noodles from getting soggy, boil them separately before adding.
Jjajang Tteokbokki (짜장떡볶이):
For a unique twist, try replacing the gochujang with jjajang (black bean) sauce. This gives the tteokbokki a rich, savory flavor that's different from the usual spicy version.
➤ Tteokbokki is a versatile dish that can be customized with different ingredients and flavors. Experiment with your own special recipe and enjoy making this Korean favorite at home with your loved ones!
