Tteokbokki, a beloved Korean dish, has captured the hearts and taste buds of many around the world. It's a deliciously spicy and slightly sweet dish made primarily from chewy rice cakes called tteok and simmered in a flavorful sauce.

Often enjoyed as a street food snack or quick meal, it's a comforting dish that's perfect for satisfying our cravings for something hearty and flavorful. Whether we're looking for a fun recipe to try or craving something with a kick, Tteokbokki is the perfect solution.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to make this iconic dish at home with easy-to-follow instructions. Trust us, once you try it, you'll be hooked!

<h3>Ingredients We'll Need</h3>

To make Tteokbokki, we'll need a few key ingredients. While you might not have everything in your pantry right now, don't worry—most of these items are easy to find at Asian grocery stores or online. Here's what we need:

• 1 lb (450g) of Korean rice cakes (tteok) – cylindrical or oval-shaped, which are chewy and absorb the flavor of the sauce wonderfully

• 2 cups of water

• 2 tablespoons of gochujang (Korean chili paste)

• 1 tablespoon of gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), optional for extra heat

• 1 tablespoon of sugar

• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced

• 2 hard-boiled eggs (optional, but they add great texture and flavor)

• Fish cakes (optional, but they are a traditional addition for extra flavor)

• Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish

Spicy rice cake (Tteokbokki: 떡볶이)

Video by Maangchi

<h3>Steps to Make Tteokbokki</h3>

Making Tteokbokki at home is straightforward and doesn't take long. Here's the step-by-step process to get that authentic, delicious taste:

If you're using dried rice cakes, we need to soak them in warm water for about 30 minutes. This will help rehydrate them and ensure they cook perfectly. If you have fresh rice cakes, you can skip this step.

In a large pan or skillet, combine the gochujang, gochugaru (if using), sugar, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Add 2 cups of water and stir everything together. Bring it to a simmer over medium heat and let it cook for about 5-7 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together and form a thick, spicy sauce.

Once the sauce has thickened, add the soaked rice cakes to the pan. Stir to coat the rice cakes evenly in the sauce. Let them cook for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the rice cakes cook, they will absorb the flavors of the sauce and become tender and chewy.

After the rice cakes have absorbed the sauce, it's time to add the garlic and onion. Stir them into the dish and cook for another 5 minutes. The garlic will add a lovely depth of flavor, and the onion will soften and blend into the sauce.

At this stage, if you're adding fish cakes, we can chop them into bite-sized pieces and stir them into the mixture. They will soak up the sauce and add a bit of savory richness. Additionally, you can add the hard-boiled eggs to the pan and let them warm up in the sauce.

Once everything is cooked to perfection, remove the pan from the heat. Garnish the Tteokbokki with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for a pop of color and flavor. Serve the dish hot and enjoy the irresistible combination of spicy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors.

<h3>Tips for the Perfect Tteokbokki</h3>

To make sure we get the best possible Tteokbokki, here are a few tips that have worked for us:

• Adjust the Heat: If we love spicy food, adding more gochugaru (Korean chili flakes) will definitely amp up the heat. However, if we prefer something milder, reduce the amount of gochujang or opt for a mild variety.

• Add More Vegetables: We can add some chopped carrots, cabbage, or bell peppers for extra crunch and flavor. These vegetables will complement the soft texture of the rice cakes.

• Serve Immediately: Tteokbokki is best enjoyed while it's hot and fresh, as the rice cakes will start to absorb the sauce as it cools, changing the texture. Serve it right after cooking for the best experience!

Tteokbokki is a fun and easy dish that we can make anytime we crave something spicy and satisfying. The chewy rice cakes combined with the bold flavors of gochujang make this dish a true Korean comfort food. Plus, it's so customizable—we can add all our favorite ingredients, whether that's fish cakes, hard-boiled eggs, or even vegetables. Whether we're enjoying it as a quick snack or serving it as a part of a larger meal, Tteokbokki is always a crowd-pleaser.

Now that we know how to make this iconic dish, we can impress our friends and family with our cooking skills. It's the perfect meal for cozy evenings or when we're just in the mood for something flavorful and comforting.