Tasty Toppings: Cheesy Tteokbokki Combos To Try

Tteokbokki is a beloved Korean dish that has sticks of rounded rice cake as its main ingredient. The addition of cheese on top is said to level up this popular street food. Driven by the younger generation, cheese consumption has been rapidly rising in Korea over the last two decades. While mozzarella is a popular choice, you can use any combination of cheese you prefer.

Mozzarella is a popular choice

Tteokbokki is a versatile dish that can be customised with various toppings and ingredients. While the classic version includes rice cakes, fish cakes, and scallions, many people now add cheese to their tteokbokki, elevating the dish to a whole new level.

Mozzarella is an excellent choice for tteokbokki because it melts beautifully and adds a creamy, indulgent texture. It pairs well with the spicy, savoury, and slightly sweet flavours of the dish. The addition of mozzarella also helps to dilute the spiciness of the gochujang sauce, making it more accessible to those who can't handle too much heat.

When making tteokbokki with mozzarella, it's important to ensure that there is enough sauce in the pan. This is because the cheese will need something to melt into, and if there isn't enough sauce, the dish may dry out. Simply add more broth or stock if needed.

The versatility of tteokbokki extends to the type of cheese used as well. While mozzarella is a popular option, you can also use other melty cheeses such as cheddar or a blend of provolone, asiago, and mozzarella for an extra creamy texture. The key is to use a cheese that melts well and complements the flavours of the dish.

So, if you're looking to add a cheesy twist to your tteokbokki, mozzarella is a great choice. Its melting properties and mild flavour make it an ideal addition to this beloved Korean street food.

But cheddar, provolone and asiago are also used

While mozzarella is the most popular cheese for tteokbokki, cheddar, provolone, and asiago are also used. In fact, a blend of these three cheeses is often referred to as "pizza blend" and is a great option for this Korean dish.

If you're making tteokbokki at home, you can melt the cheese over the stove top, in the microwave, or under the broiler. You can also add other ingredients, such as eomuk (fish cake), dumplings, eggs, sausages, and seafood.

Tteokbokki is a popular street food in Korea. It is made with stir-fried rice cakes that have a cylinder shape. The dish can be served as a main meal or a side dish.

Cheese consumption has been rapidly rising in Korea over the last two decades, driven by the younger generation. Cheese is now commonly added to various traditional Korean dishes, and it is becoming a "hip" ingredient in Korean cuisine.

It's a tasty side dish or main meal

Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food. It is a beloved traditional food that features stir-fried rice cakes with a cylinder shape. The word "tteokbokki" translates to "stir-fried rice cake". The rice cakes are the star of the dish, with a chewy texture that soaks up the sauce beautifully.

Cheese tteokbokki is a variation of the classic dish that adds cheese on top. It is a tasty side dish or main meal. The addition of cheese to tteokbokki is driven by the younger generation in Korea, where cheese consumption has been rapidly rising over the last two decades. Cheese is now commonly added to various traditional Korean dishes, and it is becoming a "hip" ingredient in Korean cuisine.

The best types of cheese to use for cheese tteokbokki are those that melt well. Mozzarella is a popular choice, but other options such as cheddar, provolone, asiago, and pizza blends also work well. The cheese can be melted over the stove top, in the microwave, or under the broiler.

To make cheese tteokbokki, start by preparing the rice cakes. If using frozen rice cakes, it is important to rinse them first and soak them in warm water to soften them. Fresh rice cakes are best, but refrigerated or frozen options are also available.

The next step is to prepare the sauce. The signature tteokbokki sauce is made with gochujang (Korean red chili paste), gochugaru (Korean red chili flakes), soy sauce, sugar, and stock. The gochujang and gochugaru give the dish its spicy kick, while the sugar balances the spiciness with a touch of sweetness. The stock can be Dashi or vegetable stock, or for a more traditional option, anchovy broth.

Combine the sauce ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil. Add the rice cakes and cook until they are soft and the sauce has thickened. This should take around 5-10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent the rice cakes from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Once the rice cakes are cooked, it's time to add the cheese. Spread a thin layer of cheese on top, cover the pan, and turn the heat to low. Remove from the heat once the cheese has melted.

Cheese tteokbokki can be served straight from the pan and enjoyed as a tasty side dish or main meal. It is best served hot, while the cheese is still melted.

It's easy to make vegan

Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food consisting of stir-fried rice cakes in a sweet and spicy sauce. The traditional version is not vegan, but it's very easy to modify with a few simple swaps. All you have to do is swap the chicken or anchovy broth with vegetable broth and you're all set.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups (590 ml) low-sodium vegetable broth (homemade or store-bought)
• 3 green onions, roughly chopped; white and green parts separated
• 1/4 head napa cabbage, thinly sliced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 to 5 cloves)
• 2–3 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
• 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes; optional)
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon cane or coconut sugar
• 4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, chopped into bite-sized pieces
• 16 ounces (450 g) Korean rice cakes (thawed if frozen)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (optional)
• Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

• Warm some vegetable broth on the stove and add the cabbage, carrot, and garlic. Simmer these ingredients together to make a more flavorful stock.
• Stir in the gochujang (paste), gochugaru (flakes), tamari, and sugar. You can also add the mushrooms here.
• Once the paste dissolves into the broth, add the rice cakes and simmer for 15-20 minutes. The rice cakes will soften and grow a little larger.
• Turn off the heat and garnish with green onions and sesame oil (optional). Top with sesame seeds, then serve and devour.

You can also add vegan sausages and vegan "fish cakes" to make the dish even closer to the original.

It's a great way to use up leftovers

Tteokbokki is a great way to use up leftovers. The dish is very versatile, and you can add almost anything to it, making it perfect for using up whatever is in your fridge. The classic tteokbokki includes rice cakes, fish cakes, and scallions, but people often add other ingredients such as cabbage, boiled eggs, ramen, dumplings, and various types of meat.

Leftover protein and vegetables can be added to tteokbokki to create a tasty and satisfying meal. For example, if you have leftover chicken, beef, or pork, you can easily incorporate it into the dish by adding it to the sauce and letting it simmer with the other ingredients. Similarly, any leftover vegetables, such as onions, carrots, or cabbage, can be sliced and added to the tteokbokki to create a hearty and nutritious meal.

The beauty of tteokbokki is that it is highly customisable, and you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences and use up whatever leftovers you have on hand. It is a great way to reduce food waste and create a delicious and unique dish at the same time.

In addition to being a versatile dish, tteokbokki is also a popular and well-loved Korean street food. The combination of chewy rice cakes, spicy sauce, and melted cheese is irresistible, and it has become a favourite among Koreans, especially the younger generation. The dish is typically served hot, with the cheese still melted, creating a comforting and indulgent eating experience.

So, the next time you have some leftover protein or vegetables, consider using them to make a delicious tteokbokki. It is a great way to create a quick, easy, and satisfying meal while reducing food waste in your kitchen.

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