Tteokbokki (Spicy Korean Rice Cakes)

2023-07-20
Tteokbokki (Spicy Korean Rice Cakes)
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 cups

Tteokbokki (pronounced duck-bow-kee) is a popular Korean street food made with chewy rice cakes and a garlicky, gochujang sauce. It's best served warm, topped with fresh green onions and hard boiled eggs. Tteokbokki is easy to customize with your favorite ingredients. It's often eaten with mozzarella cheese on top or alongside gyoza or noodles. Our recipe for Tteokbokki serves four and comes together in just 40 minutes.

How Do You Make Tteokbokki?

Tteokbokki starts with soaked rice cakes. Plan on soaking the rice cakes for at least 20 minutes but for better results, soak for at least an hour. This helps ensure they are the proper texture in the finished dish. A rich fish broth is the start of our Tteokbokki recipe and calls for dried anchovies and kelp. Once the broth is made, round out the sauce with sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and of course Korean chile. Add in the soaked rice cakes and fish cakes and cook the whole dish together until thick. You can adjust the sweetness of the finished dish with more or less sugar.

Where Can I Find Korean Rice Cakes (Tteok)?

Look for Korean rice cakes in Asian markets or online at retailers like Amazon. The shape used for this recipe is cylinder. If using fresh or frozen tteok, check the package for soaking instructions before making this Tteokbokki recipe.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water

  • 7 oz dried anchovies

  • 1 4x4-inch piece dried kelp

  • 1 pound cylinder-shaped Korean rice cakes (tteok) soaked

  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup gochujang paste

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 2 to 3 teaspoons gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 cup chopped green cabbage

  • 2 fish cake sheets, cut into 2-inch pieces

  • 4 medium (4-1/8" long) green onions, cut into long pieces plus additional for garnish

  • 2 large hard boiled eggs, halved

Directions

  1. Soak your rice cakes for at least 20 minutes or according to package directions. In a medium saucepan combine the water, dried anchovies, and dried kelp. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and using a slotted spoon, remove the anchovies and kelp; discard.

  2. Stir the soaked rice cakes, gochujang, sugar, soy sauce, gochugaru, and garlic into the anchovy broth and return to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes or until the rice cakes are tender and the sauce is lightly thickened.

  3. Stir in the cabbage, fish cakes, and green onions. Continue cooking about 5 minutes or until cabbage is tender and rice cakes are very tender. Remove from heat and stir in eggs. Serve topped with sliced green onion. 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

691 Calories
12g Fat
100g Carbs
45g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 690.7
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11.9g 15%
Saturated Fat 2.6g 13%
Cholesterol 198.1mg 66%
Sodium 5332.9mg 232%
Total Carbohydrate 99.9g 36%
Dietary Fiber 4.1g 14%
Total Sugars 28.2g
Protein 44.8g 90%
Vitamin D 2.7mcg 14%
Vitamin C 28.2mg 31%
Calcium 189.5mg 15%
Iron 3.2mg 18%
Potassium 1127.4mg 24%
Fatty acids, total trans 0g
Vitamin D 109.7IU
Alanine 2.6g
Arginine 2.8g
Ash 16.5g
Aspartic acid 4.5g
Caffeine 0mg
Carotene, alpha 1mcg
Choline, total 266.5mg
Copper, Cu 0.3mg
Cystine 0.6g
Energy 2889.3kJ
Fluoride, F 204.4mcg
Folate, total 85.5mcg
Glutamic acid 6.9g
Glycine 2.1g
Histidine 1.2g
Isoleucine 2.1g
Leucine 3.6g
Lysine 3.7g
Methionine 1.3g
Magnesium, Mg 135.4mg
Manganese, Mn 1.3mg
Niacin 6.6mg
Phosphorus, P 718.4mg
Pantothenic acid 2.2mg
Phenylalanine 1.9g
Phytosterols 13.1mg
Proline 1.7g
Retinol 70.5mcg
Selenium, Se 98.7mcg
Serine 2g
Starch 0g
Theobromine 0mg
Threonine 1.9g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 2.9mg
Tryptophan 0.5g
Tyrosine 1.6g
Valine 2.4g
Vitamin A, IU 813.6IU
Vitamin A, RAE 99.4mcg
Vitamin B-12 5.6mcg
Vitamin B-6 1mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 115.7mcg
Water 431.3g
Zinc, Zn 2.4mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Related Article

Loaded Potato Dip

Loaded Potato Dip

When you have leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving or a weeknight dinner, plan to use them in this loaded potato dip recipe.
Artichoke Flatbread

Artichoke Flatbread

Artichoke Flatbread
26 4th of July Side Dishes, Desserts, Main Dishes, and More

26 4th of July Side Dishes, Desserts, Main Dishes, and More

Whether you're hosting a small group or going to a big neighborhood potluck, we have 4th of July side dishes, desserts, and other recipes to prepare.
10 Creative Thanksgiving Fruit Dessert Ideas to Try This November

10 Creative Thanksgiving Fruit Dessert Ideas to Try This November

A true reflection of abundance, thanksgiving fruit desserts especially reflect the harvest season. Try our cakes, pies, and tarts, and you'll be ready to take a break from pumpkin pie!
Garlic and Pepper Stir-Fry

Garlic and Pepper Stir-Fry

The bold flavors of this stir-fry side dish make it the ideal companion for a juicy grilled steak.
White Chocolate-Cherry Shortbread

White Chocolate-Cherry Shortbread

A basic shortbread recipe requires nothing more than butter, flour, and sugar. This version of the classic cookie recipe is dressed up with the addition of maraschino cherries and a dip in melted white chocolate.
How Long Does Cut Watermelon Last? Our Test Kitchen Has the Timeline

How Long Does Cut Watermelon Last? Our Test Kitchen Has the Timeline

How long does cut watermelon last? The quality begins to diminish day after day, so the sooner you can savor it, the better. Still, you should have 3 to 5 days to enjoy your fresh watermelon after slicing and dicing the fruit. Find out more about how long cut watermelon lasts in this guide.
How to Make a Cracker and Cheese Tray Your Guests Will Swoon Over

How to Make a Cracker and Cheese Tray Your Guests Will Swoon Over

Want to learn how to set up a cracker and cheese tray? We're happy to share all of our appetizing secrets!
Make-Ahead Low-Country Shrimp Boil

Make-Ahead Low-Country Shrimp Boil

Follow our make-ahead instructions to prepare this low-country boil recipe in minutes come party time. Make sure you have plenty of napkins handy when you serve this buttery Low-Country Shrimp Boil—you'll want to skip the utensils and enjoy it with your hands!
Coconut Acorn Squash & Carrot Soup

Coconut Acorn Squash & Carrot Soup

Top soup with fried onions, basil, and toasted acorn squash seeds.
13 Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Make Any Breakfast a Special Occasion

13 Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Make Any Breakfast a Special Occasion

We've gathered our best cinnamon roll recipes ever from classic to creative. If you're looking for something simple, choose an easy recipe that starts with frozen bread dough—you'll find plenty of those here, too.
Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Make this seasonal brunch bread in classic roll shape or as a gingerbread cinnamon star. Either form lends cozy comfort and festive gingerbread flavor to your brunch menu.
Souffle Pancakes with Maple-Pear Syrup

Souffle Pancakes with Maple-Pear Syrup

Brunch or dessert? We vote both. Each fall-spiced puffy pancake has plenty of tiny air pockets to absorb every drop of the pear liqueur syrup.
Mushroom Fricassee with Fresh Herbs

Mushroom Fricassee with Fresh Herbs

Traditionally, fricassee recipes involve sautéing and simmering meat in a creamy sauce. Here, we transform the same technique into a side dish format with a mushroom fricassee recipe that's topped with plenty of fresh herbs.
Air-Fryer Calzones

Air-Fryer Calzones

You'll love these healthier stuffed pizzas using your air fryer. Make sure to not overfill them, so they'll stay sealed with all that cheesy goodness. Don't forget to flip them once while cooking so they'll get perfectly golden brown on both sides. Serve them up with a side of marinara sauce for dipping!
Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Grinders

Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Grinders

Make hot Italian sausage subs for a crowd with this easy slow cooker sandwich recipe. This easy Italian sandwich recipe makes enough meat for 12 subs, so it's great for a party or potluck.
How to Wrap a Sandwich for a Picture-Perfect Picnic

How to Wrap a Sandwich for a Picture-Perfect Picnic

Keep all those fillings from spilling out using a sandwich wrap paper of your choice and these tips.
How to Make Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy

How to Make Vegetarian Biscuits and Gravy

You can make delicious vegetarian biscuits and gravy and enjoy an old-school dish with updated ingredients.
Gluten Free Homemade Pizza

Gluten Free Homemade Pizza

Yes, you can enjoy pizza without the wheat! Just start with our foolproof gluten-free flour blend and top things off with a fresh marinara sauce and your favorite toppings.
How to Smoke Food Even if You Don't Have an Actual Smoker

How to Smoke Food Even if You Don't Have an Actual Smoker

Add complex flavors to your meats, seafood, grains, and veggies with our Test Kitchen tutorials on how to smoke food at home using a charcoal or gas grill.