Published Jun 30, 2023 Updated Aug 15, 2024
Spicy Korean Rice Cake (Tteobokki) Recipe
Spicy Korean rice cake, also known as tteokbokki, is a beloved and iconic dish in Korean cuisine that tantalizes the taste buds with its fiery flavor and chewy texture. Tteokbokki features cylindrical rice cakes bathed in a vibrant and rich red sauce. The sauce is the soul of the dish, made primarily from gochujang, a fermented red chili paste that delivers a distinct spicy kick. It’s combined with other ingredients like sugar and Korean chili powder, creating a complex and addictive flavor.
Why This Recipe Works
It’s an easy homemade recipe to make with only a few simple ingredients. It brings a delicious and comfortable meal to the table, for lunch or dinner, in less than 30 minutes. It’s a perfect recipe for Korean food lovers. The spicy kick from the gochujang is balanced with sweetness from sugar. This combination creates a complex and well-rounded taste that keeps the dish exciting and enjoyable. It’s also a versatile recipe that allows you to add additional ingredients such as vegetables (cabbage), fish cakes, boiled eggs, dumplings, and ramen. These additions not only add nutritional value, but also introduce different textures and flavors, making the dish more interesting and customizable to personal preferences.
Recipe Ingredients
This mouthwatering spicy Korean rice cake (tteobokki) recipe calls for only a few ingredients below.
Dried kelp Dried anchovies Water Green onion, scallion Hard boiled eggs Fish cakes Sesame seeds
Tasty gochujang red sauce:
Gochujang- Korean red chili paste Gochugaru- Korean chili flakes Sugar
How To Make Spicy Korean Rice Cake (Tteobokki)
This authentic tteobokki dish is easy and quick to prepare, and the final result rivals the one sold on the street venue in Korea. First, make a decent soup base by boiling dried kelp and dried anchovies in water. Let the soup boil for 15 minutes to get all the flavor from the ingredients. Drain out dried kelp and dried anchovies, and keep the soup to cook rice with other ingredients. Next, mix well gochujang, gochugaru, and sugar in a small bowl. Add rice cake, green onion, hard boiled eggs, and fish cake to the pan. Stir in the red sauce and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the rice cakes are soft and the soup has reduced and thickened. Finally, dish out and serve immediately with sesame seeds on top.
Cooking Tips
For the most flavorful and authentic spicy Korean rice cake (Tteobokki), please follow my tips below.
If using frozen rice cakes, or the rice cakes are too hard and dry, soak them in water for about 15-20 minutes before cooking. This will help soften them and improve their texture. Adjust the heat level according to your preference. If you like it spicier, you can increase the amount of gochujang or chili powder. Conversely, if you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the amount of spice. Enhance the flavor and texture of your tteokbokki by adding vegetables like green onions, cabbage, or carrots.
What To Serve With Spicy Korean Rice Cake
For an easy and wholesome Korean dinner, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
