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Quick & Easy Tteokbokki Recipe

4.7 from 127 reviews

Quick & Easy Tteokbokki is a flavorful and spicy Korean street food made with chewy rice cakes, fish cakes, and a savory gochujang-based sauce. This recipe is perfect for a comforting snack or meal that comes together quickly using simple ingredients and a stovetop simmering method.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups Korean rice cakes
  • 2 cups water (or vegetable stock for more flavour)
  • 1 cup Korean fish cake, sliced into triangles or strips (or substitute with Fish Cake Balls)
  • 4 pieces dried kelp
  • 2 stalks green onion, chopped into 1 inch pieces

Sauce Ingredients

  • ½ tbsp gochujang (mild type)
  • 2 tbsp regular soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp white granulated sugar
  • 3 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp gochugaru

Garnish

  • 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soak Rice Cakes: Soak the Korean rice cakes in warm water for 5 minutes to soften them slightly, then strain out the water to prepare for cooking.
  2. Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, combine gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and gochugaru. Stir well until the sauce ingredients are thoroughly mixed and set aside.
  3. Boil Water and Kelp: In a non-stick pan, add 2 cups of water and the dried kelp pieces. Bring the mixture to a boil to infuse flavor into the broth.
  4. Add Sauce to Broth: Once boiling, remove the kelp, then add the prepared sauce mixture to the pan. Stir well to combine and bring the liquid back to a boil.
  5. Simmer Ingredients: Add the sliced fish cakes, soaked rice cakes, and chopped green onions to the pan. Lower the heat to a medium flame and let everything simmer uncovered for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the ingredients.
  6. Finish and Garnish: Once the sauce has thickened to your liking, remove the pan from heat. Sprinkle with optional sesame seeds for added texture and flavor. Serve hot and enjoy your quick and delicious tteokbokki!

Notes

  • Soaking the rice cakes softens them and helps them cook evenly without becoming mushy.
  • Using vegetable stock instead of water can enhance the umami flavor of the dish.
  • Adjust the amount of gochujang and gochugaru to increase or decrease the spiciness according to your preference.
  • If you can’t find Korean fish cakes, substituting with fish cake balls or other fish-based ingredients works well.
  • Simmer uncovered to allow the sauce to thicken naturally without becoming too watery.

Keywords: Tteokbokki, Korean rice cakes, spicy Korean snack, fish cake, gochujang recipe, easy Korean food, quick tteokbokki