Tteokbokki is one of Korea’s most beloved street foods—a bowl of chewy rice cakes smothered in a rich, spicy, and slightly sweet gochujang-based sauce. If you’ve ever walked through a Korean night market, you’ve probably seen bubbling pots of bright red tteokbokki calling your name. Social media is also flooded with videos and images of this iconic dish. The best part about this recipe–aside from it’s bomb flavor? It’s SO easy to make at home and comes together in under 20 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy – Ready in just 20 minutes and comes together in one pan.
Authentic Flavors – Tastes just like the tteokbokki from a Korean street vendor. It features gochujang, a classic ingredient found in many Korean dishes. Both the flavor profile and textures of this dish are very complex and super satisfying!
Customizable Spice Level – Adjust the heat to your liking. I like to use a combination of gochujang (Korean red pepper paste) and ketchup, but if you prefer your tteokbokki more on the spicy side, swap out the ketchup with additional gochujang.
Perfect Snack or Meal – Great as a snack, side dish, or main course. I personally love eating tteokbokki as a late night snack while watching my favorite shows.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Tteokbokki at Home
Main Ingredients:
Neutral oil – Helps sauté the cabbage and garlic.
Korean rice cakes – The star of the show! These chewy rice cakes soak up all the sauce. I recommend using the tubular shaped rice cakes which are traditionally used for tteokbokki. They can be found at your local Asian supermarket.
Fish cake – A must-have for classic tteokbokki, adding extra umami flavor. Fish cakes are another classic Korean ingredient, often used to make fish cake soup or a stir fried side dish.
Cabbage – Gives a nice crunch and absorbs the delicious sauce.
Garlic – Because garlic makes everything better. It’s a key ingredient in Korean cooking and you will rarely find a Korean dish that doesn’t include garlic.
Water – Helps create the perfect sauce consistency. You can also use dashi stock or chicken broth for a deeper flavor.
Green onion – A fresh garnish to balance the spice.
Sesame seeds – Adds a nutty crunch to the final dish.
For the Tteokbokki Sauce:
Gochujang – The essential Korean red pepper paste that gives tteokbokki its signature kick. It’s fermented and thus has a deep, rich, and complex flavor with an underlying subtle sweetness.
Ketchup – Adds a touch of sweetness and acidity. I enjoy the combination of ketchup and gochujang but if you prefer your tteokbokki extra spicy, substitute the ketchup with additional gochujang.
Sugar – Balances the spice and enhances the overall flavor.
Soy sauce – Adds depth and a hint of saltiness.
How to Make Tteokbokki
1. Prep the Ingredients
Soak the rice cakes in water while you chop your cabbage and fish cakes. In a small bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients and set aside.
2. Sauté the Aromatics
Heat a pan over medium heat and add the oil. Sauté the cabbage for about 2 minutes. Then, add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Build the Sauce
Stir in the tteokbokki sauce mixture and let it cook for a minute to enhance the flavors. Then, add the water and mix well.
4. Cook the Rice Cakes
Drain the soaked rice cakes and add them to the pan along with the fish cakes. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let simmer for about 4 minutes until the sauce thickens and the rice cakes become soft and chewy.
5. Garnish and Serve
Top with chopped green onion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Tteokbokki
Soak the Rice Cakes – This keeps them from being too hard when cooking.
Adjust Spice Level – Add more or less gochujang depending on your heat preference.
Use Good-Quality Fish Cakes – They add amazing umami to the dish.
What to Serve with Tteokbokki
Kimbap – The perfect companion (I love using the frozen kimbap from Costco!). Dipping kimbap into the spicy sauce is a game-changer!
Boiled Eggs – A common topping in tteokbokki is boiled eggs. The tender eggs pair perfectly with the spicy sauce and also adds bulk and protein to the dish.
Cheese – Melt some mozzarella on top for an extra indulgent twist.
Fried Dumplings (Mandu) – A crispy side that soaks up the spicy sauce beautifully.
Is Tteokbokki Vegetarian/Vegan?
This recipe includes fish cakes which are an animal product and therefore not vegetarian/vegan. To make it vegetarian or even vegan, you can simply substitute the fish cakes with firm tofu strips, or just omit the ingredient altogether.
You can also add additional vegetables to make it more nutritious, like sliced carrots, mushrooms, onions, etc.
Make This Easy Tteokbokki at Home
Tteokbokki is one of those dishes that brings comfort in every bite. It’s spicy, sweet, chewy, and just downright addicting. Whether you’re making it for a quick snack or a fun meal, it’s a recipe that never disappoints.
Try it out and let me know—are you team extra spicy or mild and sweet? And don’t forget to grab some kimbap for the ultimate dipping experience!
Craving More Easy Korean Recipes?
Easy Tteokbokki Recipe - Korean Spicy Rice Cakes
Ingredients
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- 2 tsp neutral oil
- 12 oz Korean rice cakes Tubular shape
- 8 oz fish cakes Rinsed in hot water and chopped into bite sized pieces
- 8 oz cabbage Chopped into 1" pieces
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
- 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds for garnish
FOR THE TTEOKBOKKI SAUCE
- 1.5 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
Instructions
- Soak the rice cakes in water while you chop your vegetables. In a small bowl, add all the ingredients for the sauce. Mix and set aside.
- Heat your pan or pot under medium heat and add oil. Saute the cabbage for about 2 minutes, then add the garlic and saute for just a minute or until the garlic becomes fragrant. Add the tteokbokki sauce and saute for just a minute, then add water and mix.
- Drain the rice cakes and add to the pan, along with the fish cakes. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium low. Let simmer for about 4 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped green onion and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
