Tteokbokki: The Beloved Korean Spicy Rice Cakes
Mastering Tteokbokki: A Delicious Recipe with My Personal Tips
After indulging in rich holiday meals, don’t you crave something spicy and savory? Tteokbokki is the perfect comfort food, easy to make at home and ideal for a weekend treat!
Ingredients- 700ml Water (approx. 3.5 cups)
- 2 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 3 sheets Fish Cakes (Eomuk)
- 300g Tteokbokki Rice Cakes (soft type)
- 1 packet Shin Ramyun (including the soup base and dried vegetable packet)
- 2 Hard-boiled Eggs
- 1 tsp Curry Powder (optional, for enhanced flavor!)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, pour 700ml of water into a deep pot and bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, skim off any impurities. Then, dissolve 2 tablespoons of gochujang into the water until it’s smooth and well combined. Stirring thoroughly ensures the paste dissolves evenly, creating a clear broth.
Step 2
Once the gochujang-infused water returns to a simmer, add 1 tablespoon of sugar. The sugar will melt, balancing the spiciness with a pleasant sweetness and adding a delightful depth of flavor.
Step 3
Cut the 3 sheets of fish cakes into bite-sized pieces. The original recipe suggests cutting them roughly, but I prefer to cut them into triangles for a more appealing presentation. Feel free to cut them into your preferred shapes!
Step 4
The order in which you add the ingredients can impact the final dish. While the original recommendation was tteok -> eggs -> ramen -> fish cakes, I prefer to add the fish cakes first to prevent the rice cakes from becoming too soft and mushy. Then, I add the hard-boiled eggs, followed by the tteokbokki rice cakes, and finally the ramen noodles. However, the difference isn’t drastic, so feel free to adjust the order to your liking!
Step 5
Create a space in the center of the pot and add the ramen noodles. Don’t forget to add the Shin Ramyun soup base and dried vegetable packet; this will infuse the tteokbokki with the delicious flavors of the ramen, making it even more savory.
Step 6
When the ramen noodles are cooked to your liking, turn off the heat and stir in 1 tablespoon of honey. Honey adds a subtle sweetness and a beautiful glossy finish, making your tteokbokki look and taste even better. For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding 1 teaspoon of curry powder and mixing it in. Curry powder helps to cut through any heaviness and adds a unique, slightly exotic aroma.
Step 7
Finally, garnish with finely chopped green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. This simple yet satisfying dish is incredibly delicious, proving that you don’t need complex ingredients to create something truly special.
