Introduction:

Tteokbokki, also known as spicy Korean rice cakes, is a popular street food in South Korea. This savory, spicy dish is made of chewy rice cakes cooked in a fiery red pepper sauce. It’s a perfect comfort food for any time of the year and can be enjoyed as an appetizer or a main dish. In this article, we will explore the secrets to creating the best tteokbokki recipe that you can make at home.

Ingredients:

– 1 pound (450 g) of Korean rice cakes (tteok)

– 4 cups (1 L) of water

– 1/4 cup (60 g) of gochujang (Korean red chili paste)

– 2 tablespoons (30 g) of gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)

– 2 tablespoons (30 g) of soy sauce

– 1 tablespoon (15 g) of sugar

– 2 cloves of garlic, minced

– 3 green onions, chopped

– 1 small carrot, sliced diagonally

– 3 hard-boiled eggs

– Optional additions: fish cakes, seaweed rolls, ramen noodles

Instructions:

1. Soak the rice cakes in cold water for about 30 minutes to soften them and remove excess starch. Drain well.

2. In a large pan or wok, add the water, gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, and minced garlic. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Bring it to a boil over medium heat.

3. Once boiling, add the soaked and drained rice cakes to the pan. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

4. Add the carrots and half of the green onions to the pan. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the rice cakes are tender and the sauce has thickened.

5. While the tteokbokki is cooking, prepare the hard-boiled eggs by peeling and cutting them in half.

6. When the tteokbokki is ready, gently stir in the hard-boiled eggs until they are coated with the sauce.

7. Optional: If you want to add fish cakes, seaweed rolls, or ramen noodles do so at this point and cook until heated through.

8. Garnish your Tteokbokki with the remaining green onions and serve hot.

Tips for success:

– Use freshly-made rice cakes for optimal texture; store-bought frozen ones can be substituted but soften them first by soaking in water.

– Adjust the spiciness level of your tteokbokki by using more or less gochujang, gochugaru, or including other chili paste varieties.

– Serve your tteokbokki with a side of kimchi or pickled radish to balance out the spiciness.

– Mix things up by adding vegetables like cabbage, mushrooms, or broccoli to your tteokbokki for extra texture and flavor.

Now you have the best Tteokbokki recipe on hand to enjoy delicious spicy Korean rice cakes anytime you crave a delicious comfort food treat. Happy cooking!