Spicy & Sweet Tteokbokki Made with Leftover Tteokguk Rice Cakes
Spicy & Sweet Tteokbokki Made with Leftover Tteokguk Rice Cakes
Let’s Make Tteokbokki with Leftover Tteokguk Rice Cakes!
Have you got leftover tteokguk rice cakes from the New Year? Don’t let them go to waste! Transform them into a delicious, spicy, and sweet tteokbokki. This dish is perfect as a late-night snack or a treat for the whole family. If you prefer a milder version for children, simply reduce the gochujang (Korean chili paste). For adults, spice it up a bit and enjoy it as a fantastic accompaniment to drinks. It’s a wonderful way to savor the festive flavors once again!
Tteokbokki Ingredients- 400g Tteokguk rice cakes (if frozen, thaw first)
- 2 Tbsp cooking oil
- 2 Tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp corn syrup (or oligosaccharide)
- A pinch of sesame seeds (for garnish)
- 200ml water (approx. 1 standard paper cup)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the tteokguk rice cakes. If they have been frozen, soak them in lukewarm water for about 30 minutes to soften them. This step is crucial to ensure the rice cakes become tender and don’t break apart during cooking.
Step 2
Now, let’s make the tteokbokki sauce. Heat a frying pan over low heat, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and then add the gochujang, sugar, corn syrup, and soy sauce in that order. Quickly stir everything together to combine the ingredients well, ensuring the sauce doesn’t burn over low heat.
Step 3
Once the sauce ingredients are well mixed, pour in 200ml of water. This is about half a standard paper cup. Adding water helps to adjust the consistency of the tteokbokki sauce and creates a moist environment for the rice cakes to cook.
Step 4
Drain the softened tteokguk rice cakes thoroughly and immediately add them to the simmering sauce in the pan. It’s important to drain the water well to prevent the sauce from becoming diluted.
Step 5
Once the rice cakes are mixed with the sauce, increase the heat to medium and let the mixture simmer until the rice cakes absorb the sauce and the sauce thickens. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice cakes from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Step 6
When the tteokbokki sauce has thickened to your desired consistency, reduce the heat back to low. Taste the tteokbokki and adjust seasoning if needed – add a little more soy sauce for saltiness or corn syrup for sweetness. Let it simmer on low heat for about 5 more minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Finally, turn off the heat and sprinkle with sesame seeds for a delightful finish. Your delicious spicy and sweet tteokbokki made from tteokguk rice cakes is ready to be enjoyed! Savor this unique dish made from your leftover rice cakes.
