Chewy Rice Delight
Caleb Ryan
| 23-08-2025
· Food Team
Tteok-bokki is one of Korea’s most beloved comfort foods. It’s made of chewy rice cakes cooked in a sweet, tangy sauce that clings to every bite. The combination of soft rice cakes and flavorful sauce makes it a snack we can enjoy anytime.
Today, we’ll show how easy it is to make tteok-bokki at home, step by step, so we can all savor this warm, satisfying dish together.
Ingredients for 2–3 Servings
Here’s what we’ll need to make tteok-bokki:
- 250 grams of rice cakes (tteok), sliced or cylindrical
- 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- 1 tablespoon pizza sauce
- 1 small green pepper, finely chopped
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
These ingredients are simple, yet they combine to create a dish full of flavor. The ketchup and pizza sauce mix gives a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes, while the green pepper adds a fresh touch.
Step 1: Soaking the Rice Cakes
We start by soaking the rice cakes in cold water for 2 minutes. This helps separate them, ensuring they cook evenly without sticking together. While soaking, we can chop the green pepper and prepare the sauce. Small prep steps like this make a big difference in the final texture.
Step 2: Boiling the Rice Cakes
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the soaked rice cakes. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 3–5 minutes. The goal is soft, chewy rice cakes—not mushy. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. This careful cooking step is what gives tteok-bokki its signature texture.
Step 3: Making the Sauce
While the rice cakes cook, mix the sauce. Combine 2 tablespoons of tomato ketchup, 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce, and 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional) in a small bowl. Stir until smooth. This sweet and tangy sauce will coat the rice cakes evenly, giving them that irresistible flavor we love.
Step 4: Combining Rice Cakes and Sauce
After the rice cakes are tender, leave about 2–3 tablespoons of water in the pot. Pour in the sauce and stir gently to coat every rice cake. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and sticks perfectly. Watching the sauce cling to each rice cake is one of the most satisfying moments of cooking tteok-bokki.
Step 5: Adding the Finishing Touch
Sprinkle the chopped green pepper on top and stir lightly. This adds a burst of color and a hint of fresh flavor to balance the sweetness. Serve immediately while hot for the best taste and chewy texture.
Tips for Perfect Tteok-bokki
- Soak the rice cakes for only 2 minutes.
- Simmer gently to maintain chewiness.
- Adjust the sauce’s sweetness or tanginess to taste.
- Serve hot to enjoy the best flavor and texture.
Why We Love Making It
Tteok-bokki is simple, comforting, and satisfying. It’s a snack we can make quickly, yet it feels special and homemade. Each chewy bite coated in sweet-tangy sauce is a small delight. We enjoy it as a solo treat or share it with friends for a cozy snack time. The quick prep and rich flavors make it one of our favorite comfort foods.
Time to Dig In, Lykkers!
Now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of our effort! This sweet and tangy tteok-bokki is chewy, flavorful, and perfect for warming up our day. Making it at home is simple and fun, and sharing it with someone else makes it even better. Grab a plate, enjoy every bite, and let this small dish bring a little joy into our day!
Tteokbokki, one of my new favorite weeknight meals.
Video by Ethan Chlebowski