Satisfy Your Cravings with this Korean Street Food

Are you also one of those who are now new fans of anything Korean due to Netflix? I admit, I have never liked Korean series before but “Crash Landing On You” was something different. Admit it, Captain Ri is something, huh? Anyway, I had a sudden craving for Korean street food and decided to make some Tteokbokki. Tteokbokki  떡볶이(pronounced  tok – bokki) are made from Korean rice cakes and fish cakes.  It’s sauce is made of spicy red pepper paste, Korean pepper flakes, and seasonings. The name itself means “tteok”or “rice cake”and “bokki””which means “stir-fried and seasoned food.

Why Korean Street Food is Addictive

Ok, don’t get me wrong. Korean street food did not become addictive due to Captain Ri! I just love the combination of sweet, spicy, and salty flavors combined. Remember that on a previous recipe I shared how spicy food, specifically capsaicin, triggers our brain and boosts our adrenaline? That’s another reason why tteokbokki is addictive. Also, I noticed that the spiciness of the red pepper paste and red pepper flakes are different. When I first opened that bag of Korean red pepper flakes, the aroma was quite different from that of regular chili powder or cayenne. It smelled sort of earthy and sweet. The spiciness was hot but it did not burn your mouth or have a lingering taste. The more you eat it, you taste the spiciness, but you just can’t stop. Well, that’s how I felt when I was eating it LOL!

Now Cooking…

There are different variations to this recipe. Some recipes for tteokbokki are served with hard boiled eggs, so I decided to add them, too. You can also add Napa cabbage or onion leeks as you prefer. When I was preparing the fish cakes, my son came into the kitchen and wrinkled his nose. Yeah, it smelled fishy, but hey, I’m sure it will taste good. If you think about it, it’s just a simple dish. I wonder when they will be serving this dish in our streets.

Anyway, here’s the recipe for tteokbokki, a spicy Korean street food that you’ll surely love! Don’t forget to share this with your Korean-loving friends, too!

P.S. On the next blog, I will share with you how I made my version of  kimchi.

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5 from 1 vote

Tteokbokki Korean Street Food

Tteokbokki, a Korean street food, will surely satisfy your cravings! The delectable combination of sweet, spicy, and salty are addictive and satisfying.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Korean

Keyword Korean dish, Korean recipe, Korean street food

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 350 grams Korean rice cakes separated and soaked in hot water
• 150 grams Korean fish cakes rinsed in hot water and sliced into bite-sized strips
• 2 cups water
• 1 piece medium onion thinly sliced
• 1 tsp sesame seeds for garnish
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 stalk onion leeks or chives finely chopped, for garnish
• 2 pieces hard boiled eggs sliced half, lengthwise

For the Tteokbokki Sauce

• 3 tbsp Korean chili paste (Gochujang)
• 1 tsp Korean red pepper flakes (Gochugaru)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tbsp raw sugar
• 1 tsp minced garlic

Instructions

• Separate and rinse the Korean rice cakes then soak in hot water for 5 minutes.
• Rinse the Korean fish cakes in hot water and set aside.
• Mix all the Tteokbokki sauce ingredients until it forms a paste.
• In a small saucepan, boil the 2 cups of water and drop the Korean fish cakes. Add the onions and Tteokbokki sauce. Let it cook for about 2 minutes.
• Add the fish cakes and stir. Bring to a boil then decrease heat to low.
• Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.
• Add the onion leeks and sesame oil. Turn off heat and cover for a minute.
• Serve and garnish with sesame seeds and hard boiled eggs.