Garatteok Tteokbokki || 가래떡 떡볶이 Leave a comment

Garatteok tteokbokki is a unique Korean dish that uses long, cylindrical rice cakes called garatteok instead of the traditional tteokbokki rice cakes. This variation offers a chewy and satisfying texture that pairs perfectly with the spicy tteokbokki sauce.

Why You’ll Love Garatteok Tteokbokki

• Chewy Texture: The long, cylindrical shape of garatteok provides a satisfying chewiness that’s different from regular tteokbokki.
• Versatile: You can customize your garatteok tteokbokki with various vegetables, proteins, and toppings.
• Comfort Food: It’s a warm and satisfying dish that’s perfect for any occasion.

How to Make Garatteok Tteokbokki

• Ingredients: Garatteok, gochujang (Korean red pepper paste), soy sauce, sugar, water, fish cakes, onions, carrots, mozzarella cheese.
• Instructions:
  1. Cut the garatteok into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Sauté the vegetables in a pan.
  3. Add the gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, and water to create the sauce.
  4. Combine the garatteok, vegetables, and sauce in a pot.
  5. Simmer until the sauce thickens.
  6. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and let it melt.

Tips for the Perfect Garatteok Tteokbokki

• Soak the Garatteok: Soaking the garatteok in water before cooking will help it cook more evenly.
• Cheese Choice: Mozzarella cheese is a classic choice, but you can also use other types like cheddar or gouda for a different flavor profile.
• Spice Level: Adjust the amount of gochujang to control the spiciness.
• Toppings: Get creative with your toppings! Try adding ramen noodles, kimchi, or corn.

Garatteok Tteokbokki Variations

• Seafood Garatteok Tteokbokki: Add shrimp or squid for a seafood twist.
• Vegetarian Garatteok Tteokbokki: Use vegetable broth and tofu for a vegetarian-friendly version.
• Fusion Garatteok Tteokbokki: Experiment with different cheeses and sauces, like adding curry powder or cream cheese.

This image is created using data from the Korea Tourism Organization's Photo Korea, which is open under the Public Domain License. You can download these images for free from phoko.visitkorea.or.kr. (본 이미지는 공공누리 제1유형으로 개방한 ‘한국관광공사 포토코리아'의 데이터를 이용하였으며, 해당 저작물은 ‘phoko.visitkorea.or.kr’에서 무료로 다운받으실 수 있습니다.)

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces of garaetteok (Korean rice cake), about the size of a palm
• 1 spoon of fine red pepper powder
• 1 spoon of sugar
• 3-4 spoons of starch syrup
• 2 to 2.5 spoons of gochujang (Korean chili paste)
• 1 cup of water
• 2 boiled eggs (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine sugar, red pepper powder, starch syrup, and gochujang in a pan.
2. Add water and mix well to dissolve the sauce ingredients.
3. Turn the heat to high until the mixture starts to boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium.
4. Add the garaetteok, and cook for about 5-6 minutes. If the garaetteok is thick or old, it may need to be cooked for longer.
5. When the sauce becomes thicker and the rice cake becomes soft, the tteokbokki is done. You can test the texture of the rice cake with a spoon to check if it is soft.
6. If the flavor is not strong enough, add more sugar, but not too much.
7. Optional: Add boiled eggs at any time during the cooking process.
8. Once cooked, reduce the heat to low and serve. You can eat the tteokbokki directly from the pan. If desired, you can cut the rice cake into pieces to enhance the sauce absorption.

Tips:

• It is important to keep the proportions of the ingredients.
• If the sauce is too watery, simmer on low heat while eating.
• You can add boiled eggs whenever you prefer.