Nostalgic Schoolfront Tteokkochi
Nostalgic Schoolfront Tteokkochi
The Key is the Delicious Sauce! A Simple Recipe to Enjoy at Home
Taste the flavor of tteokkochi bought in front of school during childhood! Introducing a recipe for tteokkochi that’s simple to make but guarantees deliciousness, loved by all ages. If you know the secret to the yummy sauce, you can make it without fail.
Tteokkochi Ingredients- 20 pieces of Garaetteok (rice cakes), preferably those prepared for tteokkochi
- 2 Tbsp Sugar (sweetness can be adjusted)
- 2 Tbsp Ketchup (base for sweet and sour flavor)
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang (Korean chili paste, adds spiciness and umami)
- 1 Tbsp Water (for adjusting sauce consistency)
- 1 Tbsp Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes, adds a slight kick)
- 3 Tbsp Oligodang (corn syrup or rice syrup, for shine and smooth sweetness)
- 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce (adds depth of flavor)
- 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic (adds aroma)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the necessary ingredients for your tteokkochi. Having measuring cups and spoons ready will help you make it more accurately.
Step 2
If your garaetteok (rice cakes) are hard, soak them in lukewarm water for about 5-10 minutes to soften them. Once the rice cakes are pliable, drain them completely. (Alternatively, you can blanch them briefly in boiling water if you prefer. However, be careful not to overcook, as they might become mushy.)
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious tteokkochi sauce. In a bowl, combine 2 Tbsp sugar, 2 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp gochujang, 1 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp gochugaru, 3 Tbsp oligodang, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. Mix them thoroughly until smooth and no lumps remain. (Tip: This golden ratio sauce is a combination that has been tested multiple times and found to be the most delicious. You can adjust the amount of oligodang to your preference.)
Step 4
To make the tteokkochi look appealing, arrange 4 pieces of garaetteok side-by-side on a flat surface. Then, insert a skewer from the bottom end of the rice cakes upwards to secure them firmly. This method ensures the rice cakes are threaded straight and look neat. (Tip: You can make 5 tteokkochi skewers with 4 rice cakes each.) Now, generously coat a pan with cooking oil. Fry the skewered rice cakes, turning them over, until they are golden brown on both sides. This will give them a crispy exterior and a chewy interior.
Step 5
In a small pan, add a little cooking oil and the prepared tteokkochi sauce. Gently heat the sauce over low heat until it slightly simmers. Once the sauce begins to bubble gently, turn off the heat. Using a brush or spoon, evenly coat the fried tteokkochi with the warm sauce. Your tteokkochi is now complete!
Step 6
Your sweet and spicy tteokkochi is ready! Thanks to the simple sauce, it’s perfect as a snack. (Pro Tip: If you make tteokkochi often, you can make a larger batch of the sauce and store it in the refrigerator for convenient use whenever you crave it.) Recreate the exact taste you enjoyed at the schoolfront snack stands back in the day, right in your own home. The combination of the slightly fried crispy exterior, chewy interior rice cakes, and the spicy-sweet sauce is fantastic. It’s a great treat for kids or a delightful snack when you feel peckish!
