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Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food made from chewy rice cakes, spicy gochujang sauce, and a handful of simple seasonings.
Craving that fiery, chewy delight called tteokbokki but don’t want to make a bathtub’s worth? You’ve landed in the right kitchen, my friend! Get ready for a one-person serving of Korean spicy heaven with all the spicy, savory, and slightly sweet deets you need.
Quick and Easy Tteokbokki
Buckle up for a dazzling trip to flavor town with this solo-serving Tteokbokki, the spicy, chewy street food sensation from Korea. Whether you’re a newbie to Korean cuisine or a veteran spicy food lover, this one’s going to knock your socks off faster than you can say “tteokbokki”!
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Cooking method: Stovetop
- Cuisine type: Korean
Ingredients
- 1 cup Korean rice cakes (tteok), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 and 1/4 cups water
- 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 boiled egg, halved (optional but highly recommended!)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
- In a medium-sized pot, combine 1 and 1/4 cups water, 1/4 cup gochujang, 1 tablespoon gochugaru, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, and the minced garlic. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, toss in the rice cakes. Stir to coat them with the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the rice cakes get that magic chewy texture.
- Add the boiled egg halves (if using) into the pot during the last 5 minutes of cooking, letting them soak up the spicy goodness.
- Turn off the heat, drizzle with sesame oil, and sprinkle with chopped green onion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately and get ready for a flavor explosion!
Suggestions
Feeling adventurous? Swap **gochugaru** for **cayenne pepper** to ride the spicy train. Garnish with shredded nori, cheese, or fish cakes for a multi-layered flavor fest. Pro tip: if your rice cakes are frozen, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes to avoid turning them into tiny edible bricks. Enjoy, spicy champion!
