Tteokbokki – Korean spicy rice cakes

Korea's most popular street food – chewy rice cakes in a fiery gochujang sauce with fish cakes and spring onions.

• 400 g cylinder-shaped rice cakes (tteok)
• 200 g fish cakes, sliced
• 3 tbsp gochujang
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 600 ml dashi or water
• 3 spring onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Sesame seeds

Method

1. 1
   Soak the rice cakes in cold water for 30 minutes if using dried.
2. 2
   Mix gochujang, soy sauce, sugar and garlic with the dashi to make the sauce.
3. 3
   Bring the sauce to a simmer in a wide pan.
4. 4
   Add the rice cakes and fish cakes. Cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the sauce thickens and the rice cakes are soft.
5. 5
   Add sesame oil and spring onions.
6. 6
   Garnish with sesame seeds and serve hot.