Buzz
Spicy rice cake Tteokbokki is becoming increasingly popular among international friends. This dish was also used by the Korean Cultural Center in Italy in collaboration with the Korean Food Promotion Institute to welcome local food journalists and serve for television programs related to food in 2020.
What is Tteokbokki?
Tteokbokki is a signature rice cake dish of Koreans, prepared from stir-fried glutinous rice cakes called Garaetteok along with some traditional spices. The vibrant red color of spicy rice cake Tteokbokki is created by the famous Korean chili paste Gochujang.
This dish tastes best when served hot, with the spicy flavor enveloping the soft and chewy rice cakes, making it a favorite snack for Koreans in winter amidst the cold weather of the Land of Kimchi.
Spicy rice cake Tteokbokki is a favorite street food of Koreans.
Creative variations of Tteokbokki
In Korean cuisine, Tteokbokki ranks among the Top 5 spiciest dishes. However, you may not know that spicy rice cakes have numerous 'innovative' versions that elevate the dish's flavor.
Traditional spicy rice cakes
Korean Tteokbokki, known for its distinctive flavor of Gochujang chili paste. Tteokbokki is often cooked with onions and Korean fish cakes, served with boiled eggs or various fried items. Its spicy-sweet taste will surely captivate the taste buds of most young people, especially during Korea's chilly winter.
Spicy rice cakes are a long-standing traditional dish
Cheesy Tteokbokki
Similar to traditional Korean spicy rice cakes, Cheesy Tteokbokki features a sweet-spicy base sauce with a layer of melted cheese on top. This dish becomes even more enticing when combined with the creamy richness of cheese.
Spicy rice cakes perfectly paired with stringy cheese
Especially catering to the preferences of today's young generation, cheese is also incorporated as a filling in the rice cakes, allowing every bite of the soft, chewy cake to be filled with the savory aroma of cheese.
Vegetarian Tteokbokki
Korean Vegetarian Tteokbokki is a dish specifically crafted for vegetarians who appreciate the subtle flavors of vegetables. This vegetarian version stands out with its broth simmered with shiitake mushrooms, creating a uniquely fragrant taste. Instead of meat or fish cakes, vegetarian tteokbokki is typically served with various vegetables and mushrooms.
Vegetarian Tteokbokki blends the sweetness of vegetables with the fiery spice of Gochujang sauce
Ganjang Tteokbokki
Ganjang Tteokbokki Stir-Fried Rice Cakes originated from the Joseon era. Unlike the familiar spicy and colorful Tteokbokki, Ganjang Tteokbokki stands out with its rich and unique flavor, combining meat, various green vegetables, and soybean oil.
A special 'royal' rice cake dish
The creation of this delicious dish was inspired by a scene in which a palace maid personally made and presented to the king a tantalizing stir-fried rice cake dish in the famous opera 'Jewel in the Palace'. Hence, this dish is also known as the 'royal rice cake'.
Tteokbokki Hot Pot
Unlike the usual thick and sticky sauce, Tteokbokki Hot Pot offers diners a spicy broth perfect for warming up in the chilly winter. Particularly in many restaurants, customers are allowed to customize the seasoning to create the most suitable hot pot flavor for their taste buds.
Tteokbokki Hot Pot is enticingly suitable for the cold winter season
Tteokbokki Hot Pot also incorporates common hot pot ingredients such as meat, shrimp, Korean fish cakes, various green vegetables, and mushrooms. Particularly, the rice cakes used in the hot pot are often molded into different shapes and colors to enhance the appeal of the dish.
Visit Sindang-dong - Tteokbokki Street in Seoul
Based on my travel experience in South Korea, the most special experience is perhaps indulging in Tteokbokki at bustling rice cake carts shrouded in smoke. You can encounter such carts anywhere on the streets of South Korea, but if you want to try the best spicy rice cakes, head to Sindang-dong, known as the 'Tteokbokki Street' in Seoul.
Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Street, Seoul
This is a bustling street in the capital Seoul, renowned for its legendary spicy rice cakes, Tteokbokki. What sets Tteokbokki apart in Sindang-dong is the extremely unique sauce made from black soybean paste and chili paste, creating an irresistibly spicy and numbing flavor. Upon arrival, you can immediately sense the enticing aroma emanating from the sizzling Tteokbokki pans.
Although there are numerous Tteokbokki stalls on this street, you can choose any because the deliciousness in these eateries is similar. For just about 5000￦ - 10000￦, you can enjoy a satisfying meal in Sindang-dong.
Indulge in the most delicious spicy rice cakes with ease
Tteokbokki has contributed to the global recognition of Korean culture and cuisine. While you may find spicy rice cake stalls in Vietnam, the flavor of Tteokbokki enjoyed in Korea remains unparalleled. Don't hesitate to book a trip to Korea with Mytour to experience the deliciousness of this dish firsthand!
Author: Quynh
Image source: Internet
