Description
Cheese Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food featuring chewy rice cakes simmered in a spicy, savory gochujang-based sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese for a rich and creamy twist. This recipe delivers the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and umami flavors, enhanced with a delicious cheesy topping that makes it irresistibly comforting and indulgent.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 17.5 oz (500 gr) Korean rice cakes, fresh or frozen
- 2 cups (480 ml) dashi or Korean soup stock
- 1 cup (225 gr) grated mozzarella cheese, or more
Sauce Ingredients
- 3 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 2 tsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1/2 tbsp corn syrup or additional granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp minced garlic
Garnish
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- Finely chopped scallions (green onions)
- Toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Soften the Rice Cakes: If you are using frozen rice cakes, submerge them in warm water for 20-30 minutes until they soften. Skip this step if using fresh rice cakes.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine gochujang, gochugaru, granulated sugar, corn syrup (or extra sugar), soy sauce, and minced garlic. Mix well until the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Cook the Rice Cakes: Heat a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dashi or soup stock along with the softened rice cakes. Bring the stock to a boil, then add the prepared sauce. Stir continuously to evenly coat the rice cakes and allow the sauce to thicken, bubbling for several minutes.
- Add the Cheese: Once the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency, move the rice cakes toward the center of the pan to create a cushion for the cheese. Evenly spread the grated mozzarella cheese over the rice cakes.
- Melt the Cheese: Cover the pan with a lid and cook off heat or on low until the cheese is fully melted, creating a creamy topping.
- Garnish and Serve: Drizzle the dish with sesame oil, sprinkle with finely chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while the cheese is warm and melted.
Notes
- You can customize your tteokbokki by adding fish cakes (oemuk), hard-boiled eggs, sausages, or seafood for additional flavor and texture.
- If using frozen rice cakes, soaking them properly is essential to achieve the best texture.
- Adjust the level of spice according to your preference by modifying the amount of gochujang and gochugaru.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 200 grams)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
