Gireum Tteokbokki (기름떡볶이) is an addicting Korean street food dish, most famously sold at Tongin market in Seoul. Chewy rice cakes are tossed in a sweet and spicy chili marinate, making them a tasty snack or meal! Today, I’ll show you how you can make this classic Korean dish at home!
What is Gireum Tteokbokki?
If you’d ask the vendor at Tongin Market (통인시장), he’d say Gireum Tteokbokki is how Tteokbokki SHOULD be made. Tteokbokki is a classic Korean dish that translates to “Stir-fried rice cakes.” But contradictory to its name, the common version of Tteokbokki does, in fact, not include stir-fried but boiled rice cakes. For Gireum Tteokbokki, instead, the rice cakes are actually stir-fried in chili oil, just like its name implies.
The history of this yummy streetfood being sold at Tongin Market goes back as far as 70 years. If you want to learn more about Tongin Market and the food vendors there, check out this video by the YouTuber Dave:
FAQs
Is Gireum Tteokbokki spicy?
Gireum Tteokbokki can be spicy, as the rice cakes are stir-fried in chili oil. However, the spice level can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences. If you are making this dish at home, try using less gochugaru (chili flakes), if you want a milder version.
Where can I eat gireum tteokbokki in seoul?
You can find this rice cake dish at Tongin Market in Seoul.
Can I make Gireum Tteokbokki ahead of time?
It’s best to serve it fresh, but you can make it ahead of time and reheat it when ready to serve. Be sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat it in a pan or microwave.
Can I freeze Gireum Tteokbokki
I don’t recommend freezing Gireum Tteokbokki as the texture of the rice cakes may become mushy when thawed.
Feeling hungry? Try making Gireum Tteokbokki at home today, or check out my other rice cake recipes!
Gireum Tteokbokki (기름떡볶이)
Ingredients
- 280 g Rice cakes (fresh or frozen)
- 1 stalk green onions
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tbsp Cooking wine
- 1 tbsp Corn syrup (물엿) or sugar
- 1 tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Minced green onions
- 2.5 tbsp Gochugaru (chili flakes)
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add all ingredients listed under "seasoning" and mix until you get a paste-like consistency. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized pan, heat up about 4 tbsp over medium heat.
- Add your rice cakes to the oil. If you use frozen rice cakes for this recipe, boil them in hot water until they are soft and add them to the oil.
- Stir-fry rice cakes until they turn slightly brown on the outside. This will give the rice cakes a slightly crunchy texture.
- Lower the heat slightly and add the seasoning paste. Stir-fry both until the seasoning paste, and the rice cakes are well-combined.
- Serve immediately.