If you ask any Korean who is nostalgic about their childhood, they will probably mention tteokbokki. The cheesy, gochujang-based rice cakes are a comfort food for many, and the fact that they can be found in the streets as a cheap snack is just another plus.
In recent years, new establishments have popped up that take the quintessential dish and add their own flavour and twists. From adding instant noodles to squid, to making them vegan and even creating their own meal kits, it seems that the possibilities are endless for this noodle-like cake.
Tteokbokki is made with cylinder-shaped rice cakes called garaetteok (garaeddeog). They can be purchased fresh, refrigerated or frozen and can be eaten as is or boiled for tteokguk (rice cake soup).
The resurgence of the dish on social media started when Texas-based YouTuber Seonkyoung Longest posted a video of her cooking up a batch of tteokbokki in a skillet over medium-high heat. The dish was then shared on other social platforms like KakaoTalk, where the video garnered more than 1.7 million views and quickly spread all over the world.
Although tteokbokki is considered a comfort food, it can also be surprisingly spicy. The original tteokbokki recipes that are popular online usually call for gochujang, a fiery Korean chili paste, to be added to the dish. However, it is possible to make tteokbokki without using the gochujang. Using a milder, more soothing type of sauce will make the rice cakes less spicily and more palatable to those who aren’t fond of spicy foods. 청년다방 창업
Tteokbokki can be enjoyed on its own or with additional toppings, making it an easy-to-make snack and meal for all ages. Depending on what kind of ingredients you use, it can be a healthy and filling meal that will leave you satisfied. It can also be a great way to experiment with flavors and see which ones you prefer.
Besides the classic gochujang-based recipe, other variations include soup-style gungmul-tteokbokki (gugmulddeogboggi; “soup tteokbokki”) and dry gireum-tteokbokki (gireumddeogboggi; “oil tteokbokki”). In gungmul-tteokbokki, the rice cakes are cooked in a kelp-anchovy broth along with other ingredients such as beef, pork or seafood, mushrooms, cabbage, bok choy, red bell pepper / capsicum and kimchi. Other additions are eomuk (fish cakes), eggs and diagonally sliced scallions.
Other ingredients that can be used to enhance the flavour of tteokbokki include namul (green leafy vegetable), ramen noodles, milk and vegetables such as bean sprouts, kohlrabi or sweet potato. It is also common to add squid or fried tofu pockets called yubu for extra protein. For a more unique twist, you can try adding cheese to your tteokbokki. It will melt and mix with the sauce for a satisfying meal that is both hearty and delicious. You can add the cheese after boiling or add it on top as a finishing touch. Then, sprinkle with some sesame seeds or sesame oil for a nuttier flavour. You can also add a splash of vinegar for a slightly sour kick.