If you’re a fan of Korean cuisine, you’ve most likely heard of tteokbokki – a popular and spicy rice cake dish. It’s a dish that’s known for its chewy rice cakes, rich sauce, and fiery red color. Tteokbokki is traditionally made with fresh rice cakes, but if you’re unable to find them, cooking with frozen rice cakes is a great alternative.
Using frozen rice cakes doesn’t affect the taste or texture of the dish at all. In fact, cooking with frozen rice cakes can be even more convenient, as they have a longer shelf life and are readily available at most Asian grocery stores. So, if you’re wondering how to cook tteokbokki from frozen, don’t worry – it’s incredibly simple!
To start, you’ll need to gather a few key ingredients: frozen rice cakes, gochujang (Korean red pepper paste), soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and water. Additionally, you can add other ingredients to enhance the flavor, such as fish cakes, green onions, and vegetables like cabbage or carrots. Once you have all your ingredients ready, you can begin the cooking process.
First, thaw the frozen rice cakes by soaking them in warm water for about 10-15 minutes. This will soften them and make them easier to cook. While the rice cakes are thawing, you can prepare the sauce by mixing together the gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and water in a separate bowl. Make sure to adjust the amount of gochujang according to your desired level of spiciness.
Easy Steps to Cook Tteokbokki from Frozen
If you have frozen tteokbokki (Korean spicy rice cakes) and you’re wondering how to cook them, look no further! This article will guide you through the simple steps to cook delicious tteokbokki from frozen.
Ingredients:
- 1 pack of frozen tteokbokki
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 green onion, chopped
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions:
- Start by thawing the frozen tteokbokki. You can either leave them in the refrigerator overnight or soak them in cold water for a shorter amount of time until they soften. Drain the water before cooking.
- In a large skillet or pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
- Add the tteokbokki to the heated skillet and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes to lightly brown them.
- In a separate bowl, mix the water, gochujang, sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and sesame oil together to make the sauce.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the tteokbokki in the skillet.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes until the tteokbokki is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.
- Garnish with chopped green onion and sesame seeds.
Now your delicious tteokbokki is ready to serve. You can enjoy it as is or serve it with additional side dishes like fish cakes, boiled eggs, or kimchi. So go ahead and give it a try – it’s a simple and satisfying dish that’s perfect for any occasion!
Calories | Fat | Carbohydrates | Protein |
---|---|---|---|
250 | 8g | 42g | 6g |
Preparing the Ingredients
Before you can start cooking your frozen tteokbokki, you’ll need to gather and prepare your ingredients. Here are the steps to get everything ready:
Gather the Ingredients
First, gather all the necessary ingredients. For this recipe, you will need:
- Frozen tteokbokki
- Water
- Tteokbokki sauce
- Garlic cloves
- Green onions
- Cabbage
- Cooking oil
- Sesame seeds
- Optional toppings (e.g. fish cakes, boiled eggs)
Make sure you have all these ingredients on hand before you begin.
Thaw the Frozen Tteokbokki
Next, you’ll need to thaw the frozen tteokbokki. Place the frozen tteokbokki in a bowl and cover it with cold water. Leave it to soak for about 10 minutes, or until the tteokbokki has softened and is no longer frozen.
Prepare the Vegetables
While the tteokbokki is thawing, you can prepare the vegetables. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Cut the green onions into small pieces, separating the white and green parts. Shred the cabbage into thin strips. Set all the prepared vegetables aside for later use.
By following these steps to prepare the ingredients, you’ll be ready to start cooking your delicious tteokbokki. Enjoy!
Boiling the Water
Before you start cooking the frozen tteokbokki, you will need to prepare boiling water. Fill a large pot with enough water to comfortably submerge the rice cakes once they are added.
Place the pot over high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. You can add a pinch of salt to the water for added flavor, although this is optional.
Once the water is boiling, carefully add the frozen tteokbokki to the pot. Stir gently to separate the rice cakes and ensure they cook evenly. Boil the tteokbokki for about 4-5 minutes, or until the rice cakes are soft and tender.
You can test the doneness of the rice cakes by taking a small piece and tasting it. It should be chewy but not overly firm or mushy.
Once the tteokbokki is cooked to your desired texture, remove the pot from the heat and carefully drain the water. Be cautious as the steam can be hot.
If you plan on using the tteokbokki in a sauce or stir-fry, you can immediately add the cooked rice cakes to your dish. Otherwise, if you are planning to serve the tteokbokki on its own, you can transfer it to a serving dish and let it cool slightly before serving.
Adding the Frozen Tteokbokki
Once the water is boiling, take the frozen tteokbokki out of the freezer. It’s important to keep it frozen until this step as it helps to maintain the chewy texture of the rice cakes.
Remove the packaging from the frozen tteokbokki. You may notice that the rice cakes are stuck together due to freezing, but don’t worry, they will separate and cook evenly in the boiling water.
Carefully add the frozen tteokbokki to the boiling water. Be cautious as the boiling water may splatter a bit when you add the frozen rice cakes.
Use a wooden spoon or chopsticks to gently stir the tteokbokki in the boiling water. This will help prevent the rice cakes from sticking together and ensure they cook evenly.
Let the frozen tteokbokki cook in the boiling water for about 7-10 minutes. During this time, the rice cakes will become soft and chewy.
After the tteokbokki has cooked for the recommended time, use a strainer or slotted spoon to drain the excess water from the pot. Be careful, as the boiling water will be hot.
Your frozen tteokbokki is now ready to be served and enjoyed. It can be eaten as is or used as an ingredient in other dishes such as tteokbokki stir-fry. Serve it with a side of kimchi and enjoy the delicious flavours of this classic Korean dish!
Mixing in Seasonings
Once your tteokbokki has cooked for a few minutes and the rice cakes have softened, it’s time to add the seasonings. This is what gives the dish its signature spicy and savory flavor.
The most important ingredient in tteokbokki seasoning is gochujang, a Korean chili paste. Start by adding a tablespoon of gochujang to the pot. If you like your tteokbokki extra spicy, feel free to add more. Next, add a tablespoon of doenjang, a fermented soybean paste, for added depth of flavor.
To balance out the heat and bring out the flavors even more, add a tablespoon of sugar and a tablespoon of soy sauce. The sugar helps mellow out the spiciness while the soy sauce adds a savory umami taste.
For an extra kick of flavor, you can also add minced garlic and ginger to the pot. These aromatics add a layer of depth and complexity to the dish.
Adjusting to Taste
Once you’ve added the seasonings, give everything a good mix to evenly distribute the flavors. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings if needed. If you want it spicier, add more gochujang. If it’s too spicy, add more sugar or soy sauce to balance it out.
You can also customize your tteokbokki by adding other ingredients like fish cakes, eggs, or vegetables. Just make sure they’re fully cooked before serving.
Serving the Tteokbokki
Once all the flavors have melded together and the sauce has thickened, your tteokbokki is ready to be served. Spoon the tteokbokki into bowls and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for extra flavor and presentation.
Tteokbokki is best enjoyed hot, so serve it immediately while it’s still steaming. Grab some chopsticks, tuck in, and savor the delicious combination of chewy rice cakes and spicy sauce.
Cooking the Tteokbokki
Once you have your frozen tteokbokki, you can easily cook it following these simple steps:
Step 1: Prepare the Tteokbokki
Before you start cooking, you need to thaw the frozen tteokbokki. Remove the frozen tteokbokki from the packaging and place it in a bowl. Let it defrost at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or alternatively, you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Step 2: Cook the Tteokbokki
Once the tteokbokki is thawed, it’s time to cook it. Fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the thawed tteokbokki to the boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the tteokbokki becomes soft and tender.
Step 3: Prepare the Sauce
While the tteokbokki is cooking, you can prepare the sauce. In a separate bowl, mix together the following ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Stir the ingredients until well combined and set aside.
Step 4: Combine the Tteokbokki and Sauce
Once the tteokbokki is cooked, drain it and set aside. In a separate pan, heat a small amount of oil over medium heat. Add the tteokbokki to the pan and pour the sauce over it. Stir everything together until the tteokbokki is evenly coated with the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld together.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Once the tteokbokki is ready, transfer it to a serving dish and garnish with chopped green onions or sesame seeds, if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Q&A
Can I cook frozen tteokbokki?
Yes, you can cook frozen tteokbokki. Follow the instructions on the packaging for the best results, but generally, you will need to boil the tteokbokki in water for a few minutes until they thaw, and then cook them in the sauce.
What is the best way to cook frozen tteokbokki?
The best way to cook frozen tteokbokki is to first boil them in water until they thaw. Then, heat up the sauce in a separate pan and add the tteokbokki. Cook them together for a few minutes until the sauce thickens and the tteokbokki are fully cooked.
How long does it take to cook frozen tteokbokki?
The cooking time for frozen tteokbokki can vary, but generally, it takes around 5-10 minutes. You will need to boil the tteokbokki in water until they thaw, and then cook them in the sauce for a few more minutes until they are fully cooked and the sauce thickens.
Can I microwave frozen tteokbokki?
Yes, you can microwave frozen tteokbokki, but it may not give you the best results. Microwaving can sometimes make the tteokbokki chewy or rubbery. It is recommended to follow the stovetop instructions for the best texture and taste.
What sauce should I use for cooking frozen tteokbokki?
You can use a store-bought tteokbokki sauce or make your own. The traditional tteokbokki sauce is made with gochujang (Korean chili paste), soy sauce, sugar, and other seasonings. You can adjust the spice level and sweetness according to your taste.
Can I cook frozen tteokbokki?
Yes, you can cook frozen tteokbokki. However, the cooking time may be slightly longer compared to cooking fresh tteokbokki.