Tteokbokki From Scratch

Tteokbokki From Scratch – K-Drama Comfort Food You Can Make at Home

If you’ve ever watched a Korean drama while snacking on something boring, only to see your favorite characters slurping glossy, fiery red rice cakes at a street stall… you know exactly why Tteokbokki is special.

For me, Tteokbokki is one of those dishes I didn’t grow up eating — but I grew up craving it, thanks to K-Dramas. K-Shows made it look so warm, chewy, spicy, comforting like a hug in a bowl.

And finally one day I thought:
Why not make it at home… from scratch?

Yes — homemade rice cakes (garaetteok), homemade sauce, homemade everything.
And trust me, once you make Tteokbokki at home, you’ll never want the packaged version again.

Here’s the exact recipe I perfected — soft, chewy, glossy, sweet-spicy and absolutely K-Drama worthy.

PART 1: Homemade Rice Cakes (Garaetteok)

Chewy, fresh, and 100% authentic

Ingredients

• 2 cups rice flour

• ½ tsp salt

• ¾–1 cup boiling water

• 1 tsp sesame oil (for kneading & coating)

Instructions

1. Mix the dough

Combine rice flour + salt.
Slowly pour in boiling water while stirring.
When warm enough, knead until soft and smooth.

2. Steam the dough

Place the dough in a heat-safe bowl and steam for 20 minutes.

3. Knead again

Turn the hot dough onto a board, add a few drops of sesame oil, and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

4. Shape the rice cakes

Roll into long logs and cut into 2-inch pieces — the classic tteokbokki size.

Use immediately for softness, or refrigerate for up to 4 days / freeze for 2 months.

PART 2: Tteokbokki Sauce & Cooking the Dish

Ingredients

Main

• 350–400g homemade rice cakes

• 1 small onion, sliced

• 2 spring onions, chopped

• 2 cups water or anchovy broth

Sauce

• 2 tbsp gochujang

• 1–2 tsp gochugaru

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp sugar or honey

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp rice syrup (optional)

How to Make Tteokbokki

1. Make the base

Add water or broth + onions to a pan.
Simmer 2–3 minutes.

2. Add rice cakes

Add your fresh homemade tteok.

3. Add the sauce

Mix all sauce ingredients in a bowl.
Pour over the rice cakes.

4. Simmer until glossy

Let it bubble on medium heat for 7–10 minutes, stirring often.
It will thicken and turn shiny red — the K-Drama look!

5. Finish with spring onions

Stir in chopped spring onions and serve hot.

How to Make Tteokbokki Less Spicy (Beginner Friendly)

If you’ve always loved Tteokbokki but can’t handle the heat K-Drama heroines eat like popcorn, here’s how to tone it down:

 Reduce gochugaru

Skip chili flakes entirely.

 Swap half the gochujang

Use 1 tbsp gochujang + 1 tbsp tomato ketchup for a milder but flavorful version.

 Add sweetness

Sugar, honey, or rice syrup helps balance heat.

 Make creamy tteokbokki

Add 2–3 tbsp milk, cream, or coconut milk for creamy, mild comfort.

 Add cheese (the fan-favorite)

Melt mozzarella on top — instant spice control + heavenly pull.

Why This Recipe Is Special

This isn’t just Tteokbokki.
It’s the dish that sits in almost every K-Drama moment:

• Tears + street food

• First date at a food cart

• Late-night comfort meal

• Friends bonding over spice challenges

Making it from scratch gives you the exact warmth, chewiness, and emotion that Korean dramas capture so perfectly.

If You Don’t Have Rice Syrup

You can substitute with:

• Honey (closest in texture, slightly sweeter)

• Corn syrup (very similar consistency)

• Maple syrup (different flavor but works)

• Sugar + water (1 tbsp sugar + 1 tsp water)