Sweet Rice Drink (Sikhye) Tteokbokki
The Authentic Taste of School-Front Tteokbokki! An Amazing Recipe Enhanced with Sweet Rice Drink.
What’s the secret to the classic tteokbokki sold in front of schools? It might be the sweet rice drink! Discover a nostalgic recipe that balances sweet and spicy flavors.
Ingredients
- 200g Tteokbokki rice cakes (garaetteok or tteokbokki-tteok)
- 1 large green onion
- 1 can of Sikhye (sweet rice drink, approx. 240ml)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste, heaped)
- 1 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Fish sauce (or soup soy sauce)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, fine grind)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Rinse the tteokbokki rice cakes under water to soften them. If using rice cakes that have been refrigerated, soaking them for a bit longer will help them become chewier.
Step 2
Prepare the canned sikhye. Strain the sikhye through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solid barley malt and rice grains, using only the clear sweet liquid.
Step 3
Cut 1 sheet of fish cake and half of the green onion into bite-sized pieces. (As a child, I didn’t appreciate green onions in tteokbokki, but now I find their sweetness wonderfully complements the dish!)
Step 4
In a bowl, combine the strained sikhye liquid with 1 Tbsp gochugaru, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp fish sauce, and a heaped tablespoon of gochujang. Mix well to create the sauce base.
Step 5
Add the soaked tteokbokki rice cakes to a pot along with the prepared sauce. If the rice cakes are hard, cover the pot with a lid while simmering to help them soften. (If you prefer a soupy tteokbokki, add 1 cup of water.)
Step 6
Once the rice cakes are tender, add the prepared fish cakes to the pot. Stir gently and cook until the fish cakes are heated through.
Step 7
After the fish cakes are mixed in, add the chopped green onions. Cook for just a minute or two until the green onions are slightly softened but still vibrant.
Step 8
For an extra touch, consider adding a halved hard-boiled egg. Children who find the dish spicy often enjoy mixing it with the egg. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds for a final flourish. Your nostalgic Sweet Rice Drink Tteokbokki is ready!
