Spicy and Sweet Pork Tteokbokki
Recreate the ‘Golmok Sikdang’ Style Pork Tteokbokki (Jeyuk Bokkeum Tteokbokki)
Enjoy a delicious, homemade version of the ‘Golmok Sikdang’ style pork tteokbokki that you might have seen on TV! It’s a dish that’s like jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) but also a tteokbokki, offering a delightful sweet and spicy flavor. Perfect for a satisfying meal at home.
Main Ingredients
- 300g Pork shoulder or front leg, thinly sliced
- 250g Tteokbokki rice cakes
- 1 Onion, thinly sliced
- 1 Green onion (scallion), thinly sliced
- 1 cup (200ml) Water
- 1 bunch Perilla leaves (shiso), thinly sliced
Pork Marinade
- 1 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp Maesilcheong (Korean plum syrup)
- 1.5 Tbsp Minced garlic
- Pinch of Ginger powder
- Pinch of Black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 3 Tbsp Maesilcheong (Korean plum syrup)
- 1.5 Tbsp Minced garlic
- Pinch of Ginger powder
- Pinch of Black pepper
- 1 Tbsp Sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare the pork by slicing it thinly, similar to how it’s done for jeyuk bokkeum, to ensure a tender texture. Cut it into bite-sized pieces for easy eating in the tteokbokki.
Step 2
Now, let’s marinate the pork. Start by adding 1 tablespoon of soy sauce.
Step 3
Next, add 1 tablespoon of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) to bring in that spicy kick.
Step 4
Don’t forget the minced garlic! Add 1.5 tablespoons of minced garlic for a rich flavor base.
Step 5
Add 2 tablespoons of maesilcheong (plum syrup) for a touch of sweetness and a beautiful sheen.
Step 6
Incorporate 1 tablespoon of gochujang (Korean chili paste) to develop the signature savory and spicy tteokbokki flavor.
Step 7
Add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine (like mirin or cheongju) and a pinch of ginger powder to eliminate any porky odor and enhance the overall aroma.
Step 8
Combine all the marinade ingredients with the pork and mix well. Ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it marinate in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. This resting period allows the flavors to penetrate deeply into the meat.
Step 9
While the pork is marinating, prepare the vegetables. Wash and peel the onion, then slice it thinly into strips.
Step 10
Wash the bunch of perilla leaves, pat them dry, then fold them in half and slice them thinly. Separating the sliced leaves will make them easier to use as a garnish.
Step 11
Thinly slice the green onion as well. The slight sharpness of the green onion will add another layer of flavor to the tteokbokki.
Step 12
Rinse the tteokbokki rice cakes under cold running water to remove excess starch. If your rice cakes are hard, soaking them in cold water for about 10 minutes will soften them up.
Step 13
Now, let’s start cooking! Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add all the marinated pork.
Step 14
Stir-fry the pork until it’s about halfway cooked through and the color has changed to opaque. Searing the pork first helps to lock in its juices, making it more flavorful.
Step 15
Once the pork is partially cooked, add the thinly sliced onions to the pan and continue to stir-fry. The onions will caramelize slightly and blend beautifully with the pork.
Step 16
When the onions become translucent and slightly softened, pour in 1 cup (200ml) of water and add the prepared rice cakes. This forms the base of your tteokbokki sauce.
Step 17
For the tteokbokki sauce, add an additional 1 tablespoon of gochugaru, 1 tablespoon of gochujang, and 1 tablespoon of maesilcheong. It’s often better to adjust seasoning towards the end rather than adding everything at once. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the sauce thickens and coats the rice cakes and pork.
Step 18
When the rice cakes are soft and the sauce has reached your desired consistency, turn off the heat. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil for a nutty aroma and toss in the sliced green onions. Adding green onions at the very end helps preserve their crisp texture and fresh flavor.
Step 19
Transfer the delicious pork tteokbokki to a serving dish. Top generously with the thinly sliced perilla leaves. The fragrant perilla leaves will elevate the dish with their unique aroma. Enjoy this wonderfully spicy, sweet, and hearty pork tteokbokki for a special meal!
