Description
Tteokkochi (Korean Rice Cake Skewers) are a popular Korean street food featuring chewy rice cakes coated in a sweet and spicy sauce made with gochujang, honey, and soy sauce. These skewers are pan-fried to a crispy golden exterior and glazed with a flavorful caramelized sauce, making them a perfect snack or appetizer that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice Cakes and Skewers
- 1 pound Korean rice cakes (tteok)
- Wooden skewers soaked in water
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
For Cooking and Garnish
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
- Chopped green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Soften the Rice Cakes: If using refrigerated or frozen rice cakes, soak them in warm water for 10–15 minutes until they become soft and pliable. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with a clean towel to remove excess moisture.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the gochujang, ketchup, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, sugar, and rice vinegar until well combined to create a balanced sweet and spicy sauce.
- Skewer the Rice Cakes: Thread 3 to 4 rice cakes onto each wooden skewer, ensuring they are snug but not overcrowded to allow even cooking.
- Cook the Skewers: Heat the vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Place the rice cake skewers in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, turning carefully, until the rice cakes develop a lightly golden and crispy exterior.
- Glaze with Sauce: Generously brush the prepared sauce all over the skewers. Continue cooking the skewers for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, flipping once to caramelize and glaze both sides evenly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the skewers from heat. Optionally, sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for added flavor and presentation. Serve the tteokkochi hot as a delicious street-style snack or appetizer.
Notes
- Tteokkochi is a beloved Korean street food known for its chewy texture and flavorful sweet-spicy glaze.
- For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of gochujang or increase the ketchup in the sauce.
- Grilling the skewers instead of pan-frying adds a delightful smoky taste.
- Soaking frozen or refrigerated rice cakes is essential to soften them for even cooking.
- Make sure to soak wooden skewers in water beforehand to prevent burning during cooking.
