Ingredients
Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.
Serves 4
Choose any positive whole number of servings. Ingredients and measured amounts in steps scale together. Times, temperatures and equipment stay unchanged. For larger yields, cook separate original-size batches. Counted ingredients can become fractions; beat eggs before dividing them. Fixed correction-water checks remain fixed.
Rice cakes
Sauce
Finish
Equipment
Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; saucepan with lid; sieve; baking tin or heatproof dish of the size stated in the method; heatproof spoon; spatula.
Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed draft, not every substitution.
Steps
Soak · About 20 min
- Soak rice cakes from 500 g refrigerated Korean rice cakes, 1000 ml lukewarm water in its water for 20 minutes, then drain.
Simmer · About 10 min
- Bring 650 ml water, 50 g gochujang, 15 g gochugaru, 25 g sugar, 20 ml soy sauce to a simmer. Add rice cakes and cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Finish · About 8 min
- Add 150 g fish cakes, sliced, 40 g spring onions; simmer 5–8 minutes until rice cakes are soft through and sauce coats them.
Check: Look for this result: rice cakes are soft through and sauce coats them.
Tips
- Stir regularly because rice cakes stick as the sauce thickens.
- Use the texture and doneness checks in the method; cooking times depend on your pan and heat.
Substitutions
- Use fried tofu strips instead of fish cakes.
Storage
- Cool in shallow portions and refrigerate promptly, ideally within one hour. Keep at 4°C / 40°F or below and use within 24 hours.
- Reheat cooked rice only once, until steaming hot throughout at 74°C / 165°F. Keep cold rice dishes refrigerated until serving.
Make ahead
- Prepare the measured ingredients for Tteokbokki one day ahead. Refrigerate chopped vegetables and other perishable ingredients separately; complete the staged cooking on the serving day.
FAQ
What matters most when making Tteokbokki?
Stir regularly because rice cakes stick as the sauce thickens.
What can I substitute in Tteokbokki?
Use fried tofu strips instead of fish cakes.
Can I prepare Tteokbokki ahead?
Prepare the measured ingredients for Tteokbokki one day ahead. Refrigerate chopped vegetables and other perishable ingredients separately; complete the staged cooking on the serving day.
Food safety references
FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating



