Korean Tteokbokki Spicy Rice Cakes (Printable)

Chewy rice cakes in spicy gochujang sauce, ready in 30 minutes for an authentic Korean street food experience.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice Cakes

01 - 1.1 pounds Korean rice cakes, cylindrical
02 - 4.2 cups water

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tablespoons gochujang
04 - 1 tablespoon gochugaru
05 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon sugar
07 - 1 tablespoon honey
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Broth

09 - 3 cups water
10 - 1 dried kelp, 3 x 3 inches
11 - 4 dried anchovies, cleaned

→ Vegetables and Garnish

12 - 2 green onions, sliced diagonally
13 - 1 small onion, sliced
14 - 1/2 cup cabbage, chopped
15 - 2 boiled eggs, peeled
16 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

# How to Make It:

01 - Soak the rice cakes in warm water for 10 minutes if they are hard or refrigerated.
02 - In a medium pot, combine 3 cups water, kelp, and anchovies. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Remove kelp and anchovies, reserving the broth.
03 - Add gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, honey, and minced garlic to the broth. Stir to dissolve the paste completely.
04 - Add rice cakes, onion, and cabbage to the pot. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
05 - Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and the rice cakes are soft and chewy.
06 - Add green onions and boiled eggs in the last 2 minutes of cooking.
07 - Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce balances sweet and spicy in that way that keeps you reaching for just one more bite
  • Chewy rice cakes soaking up all that flavor is pure textural happiness
  • Comes together faster than deciding what to order for takeout
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening off the heat, so pull it when it looks slightly thinner than your desired consistency
  • Rice cakes harden fast once they cool, so eat this immediately and do not attempt to reheat in the microwave
03 -
  • Use a pot with a wide surface area so the sauce reduces faster
  • Room temperature rice cakes cook more evenly than cold ones
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