20 Minute Spicy Cheesy Korean Rice Cakes -Tteokbokki

If you’ve ever strolled through the bustling streets of Seoul or visited a Korean restaurant, chances are you’ve encountered the enticing aroma of tteokbokki wafting through the air. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a flavorful journey through the world of tteokbokki and how to make it at home. This spicy, cheesy, slightly sweet chewy rice cake is the best way to start your weekend!

Tteokbokki: Korea’s Favorite Street Food

Tteokbokki, also spelled dukbokki or topokki, is one of South Korea’s most beloved street foods and a quintessential dish in Korean cuisine. For those who never tried Tteokbokki, it’s a spicy, saucy dish made of Korean rice cakes and various toppings. The texture of the rice cake is chewy and bouncy, and super satisfying.

How To Make Tteokbokki?

Tteokbokki is known for its spicy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors. Its primary ingredients include:

• Tteok (rice cakes): The star of the show, these cylindrical rice cakes have a chewy texture that soaks up the sauce beautifully. ** IF YOU ARE USING FROZEN TTEOKBOKKI, MAKE SURE YOU RINSE THE RICE CAKES FIRST ** 
• Gochujang: This red chili paste gives tteokbokki its signature fiery kick and imparts a deep, complex flavor.
• Gochugaru: Red chili flakes add extra heat and contribute to the dish’s vibrant red color.
• Soy sauce: Provides saltiness and umami depth to the sauce.
• Sugar: Balances the spiciness and enhances the overall flavor profile with a touch of sweetness.
• Stock: I used Dashi stock today, but feel free to change it to whatever stock you prefer. 

What Toppings Can You Add Into Tteokbokki?

Tteokbokki is delicious, simple, and there are so many variations depending on what is in your kitchen. You can add whatever you want into your Tteokbokki; Some of my favorite toppings are:

• Fish cakes: Thin slices of fish cakes add a delightful seafood element and a chewy texture.
• Vegetables: Many variations include ingredients like sliced scallions, cabbage, and onions for added crunch and freshness.
• Boiled Eggs: Boiled eggs make a hearty, yet cost effective topping to add.
• Ramen: Ramen Noodles cook quickly and is great at picking up the spicy sweet sauce of tteokbokki.

Do you want more EASY 20 minute recipes? Here are some of my go-to recipes that you will LOVE!

• Honey Garlic Chicken
• Korean Short Rib Bibimbap
• Soy Sauce Pan-fried Noodles
• Black Pepper Garlic Steak Bites

Tteokbokki Ingredients 

• ½ Onion sliced (optional)
• ¼ Cabbage sliced 
• 2 Green Onion – 2-inch pieces 
• 3 cups of Frozen Rice Cake 
• 2 cups of Dashi Stock or Vegetable Stock 
• 1.5-2 tbsp of Gochujang
• 1 tbsp of Soy Sauce 
• 0.5 tbsp of Sugar 
• 1 tablespoon minced Garlic
• 3 tsp of Korean Chilli Flakes
• 1 tablespoon Honey
• 1 tsp black pepper (optional)
• 1 cup of Mozzarella Cheese 
• 1 cup fish cakes (optional)

1. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add Gochujang, Sugar, Gochugaru, Honey, Garlic, black pepper, and Soy Sauce.
2. Add a splash of dashi stock, Mix, and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
3. Pour in the rest of the dashi stock and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add in onion and let it simmer for 3 minutes. (optional) 
4. Add rice cake and cook for another 5-6 minutes; make sure that all the rice cake is soaked in the sauce. 
5. Finally, add in any toppings of your choice, I like fish cake and cabbage, and simmer for another 3-4 minutes. 
6. Optional but highly recommend: add 1 cup of cheese and broil it in the oven till cheese is melted, or cover with a lid on so the cheese fully melts.

Spicy Cheesy Korean Rice Cakes – Tteokbokki (20 Minutes!)

By Tiffy Cooks

5 from 2 votes

Tteokbokki, also spelled dukbokki or topokki, is one of South Korea’s most beloved street foods and a quintessential dish in Korean cuisine. This spicy, cheesy, slightly sweet chewy rice cake is the best way to start your weekend!

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Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:10 minutes mins

Total Time:20 minutes mins

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine: Asian, Korean

Keyword: asian dinner, Asian Recipes, dinner Ideas, easy meal, Easy Recipes, Korean Food, korean recipe, quick and easy recipe, quick dinner, QUICK RECIPES, rice cake, Spicy, tteokbokki

Servings: 3

Ingredients

• ½ Onion optional**, sliced
• ¼ Cabbage sliced
• 3 cups Korean Rice Cake
• 2 cups Dashi Stock or Vegetable Stock
• 1.5-2 tbsp of Gochujang
• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 0.5 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Garlic minced
• 3 tsp Korean Chilli Flakes
• 1 tbsp Honey
• 1 tsp Black Pepper optional
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese shredded
• 1 cup fish cakes optional

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Turn the heat up to medium-high and add Gochujang, Sugar, Gochugaru, Honey, Garlic, black pepper, and Soy Sauce.
• Add a splash of dashi stock, Mix, and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
• Pour in the rest of the dashi stock and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add in onion and let it simmer for 3 minutes. (optional)
• Add rice cake and cook for another 5-6 minutes; make sure that all the rice cake is soaked in the sauce.
• Finally, add in any toppings of your choice, I like fish cake and cabbage, and simmer for another 3-4 minutes.
• Optional but highly recommend: add 1 cup of cheese and broil it in the oven till cheese is melted, or cover with a lid on so the cheese fully melts.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 400g