Cheesy Spicy Korean Rice Cakes (Cheese Tteokbokki)
Cheesy Spicy Korean Rice Cakes, or Cheese Tteokbokki, is a delectable twist on the traditional Korean street food. This dish features chewy Korean rice cakes that absorb a rich, spicy, and slightly sweet sauce made from gochujang, honey, and a touch of ketchup. Packed with colorful vegetables like carrots and leeks for added nutrition, and complemented by the savory softness of fried tofu, this meal is both comforting and satisfying. The star of the dish is the melted cheese, which creates a creamy, gooey texture that perfectly balances the heat of the chili paste. Serve it as a delightful lunch or snack, and feel free to customize it with your choice of veggies or proteins for an even heartier experience!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
15
Ingredients
Ingredients
Korean Rice Cakes
600 g (Soaked in water if using hard ones)
Fried Tofu (Abura Age)
2 sheets (Sliced into bite-sized pieces)
Onion
1 small (Finely chopped)
Leek
1 (Finely chopped)
Carrot
1 (Sliced into rectangular pieces)
Hard-Boiled Eggs
3 (Cut into halves)
Water
400 ml (For boiling the rice cakes)
White Sesame Seeds
1 tablespoon (For garnish)
Shredded Cheese
50 g (For topping)
Gochujang (Red Chili Paste)
4 tablespoons (For the sauce)
Tomato Ketchup
1 tablespoon (For the sauce)
Honey
1 tablespoon (For sweetness)
Sugar
1 tablespoon (For sweetness)
Minced Garlic
2 teaspoons (For flavor)
Ground Red Chili Pepper
1 teaspoon (For extra heat)
Instructions
1
1. Begin by preparing your hard-boiled eggs. Once cooked, peel them and cut them in half. Set aside.
2
2. Slice the carrots and fried tofu (abura-age) into bite-sized pieces, and finely chop the onion and leek.
3
3. In a medium bowl, mix together the gochujang, tomato ketchup, honey, sugar, minced garlic, and ground red chili pepper to create a flavorful sauce. Set aside.
4
4. In a large frying pan, bring 400 ml of water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and add the Korean rice cakes.
5
5. Cook the rice cakes until they are tender and soft, which usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes.
6
6. Once the rice cakes are tender, lower the heat and add the mixed sauce along with the chopped onion, leek, carrot, and sliced tofu. Stir well to combine everything in the sauce.
7
7. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are soft and the sauce has thickened to your liking.
8
8. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top of the dish, cover the pan, and let the cheese melt for about 2 to 3 minutes over low heat.
9
9. Remove from heat and garnish with boiled egg halves and a sprinkle of white sesame seeds. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cheesy Spicy Korean Rice Cakes (Cheese Tteokbokki)?
It is a popular Korean street food dish featuring chewy rice cakes in a spicy and sweet gochujang-based sauce, topped with melted cheese.
How many rice cakes are needed for this recipe?
You will need 600 grams of Korean rice cakes.
Do I need to soak the rice cakes before cooking?
Yes, if you are using hard rice cakes, it is recommended to soak them in water beforehand.
What are the main ingredients for the spicy sauce?
The sauce is made from gochujang (red chili paste), tomato ketchup, honey, sugar, minced garlic, and ground red chili pepper.
Is this recipe vegetarian?
Yes, this version is vegetarian as it uses fried tofu and eggs instead of meat or fish cakes.
What vegetables are included in this Tteokbokki?
The recipe includes a small onion, one leek, and one carrot sliced into rectangular pieces.
How long should I boil the rice cakes?
Boil the rice cakes in 400 ml of water for about 5 to 7 minutes until they are tender and soft.
What type of tofu is used?
The recipe calls for 2 sheets of fried tofu, also known as abura-age, sliced into bite-sized pieces.
How much cheese should I add?
You should use 50 grams of shredded cheese to top the dish.
How do I melt the cheese on the Tteokbokki?
Sprinkle the cheese over the top, cover the pan, and let it melt for about 2 to 3 minutes over low heat.
What is the garnish for this dish?
The dish is garnished with hard-boiled egg halves and a sprinkle of white sesame seeds.
Can I adjust the spice level?
Yes, you can adjust the heat by increasing or decreasing the amount of gochujang and ground red chili pepper.
How much water is used for the base?
The recipe uses 400 ml of water to boil the rice cakes and form the sauce base.
What provides the sweetness in the sauce?
The sweetness comes from a combination of one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of sugar.
How many eggs are used?
The recipe uses 3 hard-boiled eggs, which are cut into halves for serving.
How long does the sauce need to simmer?
Once the vegetables and sauce are added, simmer the mixture for 5 to 10 minutes until the sauce thickens.
What is the texture of the rice cakes?
The rice cakes should be chewy, tender, and soft once fully cooked.
Why is ketchup used in the recipe?
Ketchup adds a slight tanginess and helps balance the heat of the red chili paste.
What heat level should I use to cook the rice cakes?
Bring the water to a boil on high heat, then reduce to medium heat once the rice cakes are added.
Can I add other ingredients to this dish?
Yes, you can customize it with your choice of additional vegetables or proteins to make it heartier.
Is minced garlic necessary?
The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of minced garlic to provide essential savory flavor to the sauce.
How much gochujang is required?
The recipe calls for 4 tablespoons of gochujang (red chili paste).
How should the carrots be cut?
The carrot should be sliced into rectangular, bite-sized pieces.
What should I do with the eggs first?
Begin by hard-boiling the eggs, then peel and cut them in half so they are ready for the garnish.
What is the best way to serve Cheese Tteokbokki?
It should be served hot immediately after the cheese has melted for the best gooey texture.
What type of meal is this considered?
It is commonly served as a delightful lunch, snack, or comfort food.
How many teaspoons of ground red chili pepper are used?
One teaspoon of ground red chili pepper is used for extra heat.
Can I use any type of onion?
The recipe specifies one small onion, finely chopped.
What are some common tags for this recipe?
Common tags include tteokbokki, korean cuisine, spicy rice cakes, street food, and vegetarian.
How much sesame seeds are needed?
One tablespoon of white sesame seeds is used for the final garnish.