What is Tokbokki? Origin and simple recipes for tokbokki
As a familiar dish in Korea, tokbokki has gradually gained attention and love from many countries around the world, including Vietnam. Let’s explore this dish, its origins, and how to make it at home!
1 What is Tokbokki?
Tokbokki is a traditional Korean rice cake dish that has become increasingly popular worldwide. With its eye-catching red color and attractive spicy aroma, tokbokki is both a traditional dish and a bright star in familiar street food, closely associated with generations of Koreans.
Originating from the royal dish tteok jjim, made from thinly sliced rice cakes, meat, eggs, and spices then grilled. Tokbokki is a newer and more unique version, combining grilled tteok jjim with meat, vegetables, eggs, water, and sesame seeds sprinkled on top. There is also gungjung tteokbokk – Korean fish cake with ingredients such as rice cakes cut into sticks, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce for seasoning.
2 The origin of tokbokki
First appearing during the Joseon Dynasty (1382 – 1910), gangjang tokbokki is a Royal stir-fried glutinous rice cake dish with meat and vegetables along with soybean oil. Despite its simple ingredients, gangjang tokbokki is an indispensable dish in the royal palace and in modern life with many other spicier, richer versions.
Thought to be a newly emerging dish, spicy tokbokki (gochujang tokbokki) was born in the 1950s thanks to a street food vendor. She combined gochujang chili paste with traditional tokbokki, creating a new, spicy, and delicious flavor that is hard to resist.
As you can see, today’s tokbokki has gradually been perfected with a variety of ingredients such as fish cakes, shrimp, squid, beef, pork, mushrooms, and vegetables. In addition to the usual spicy flavor, tokbokki is also coated with a layer of cheese to help reduce the spiciness and add a rich, attractive flavor.
3 Simple tokbokki recipe
There are 3 simple ways to make tokbokki: Tokbokki hot pot, Cheese Tokbokki, Deep-fried Tokbokki and Vegetarian Tokbokki.
Tokbokki hot pot
On cold days, a spicy hot pot of tokbokki will surely make you feel not only full but also very warm.
A steaming hot pot of tokbokki with attractive ingredients such as chewy rice cakes, fish cakes, fish balls, quail eggs, cabbage, spring onions, and a richly seasoned broth with spicy Korean chili paste. You can eat it forever without feeling full.
Cheese Tokbokki
In case you don’t have rice cakes, you can still use rice paper to make extremely attractive cheese tokbokki at home.
When properly prepared, rice paper retains its chewy texture, no less than rice cakes. The slightly spicy soup and the rich cheese make the tokbokki more special than ever.
Deep-fried Tokbokki
Unlike the usual spicy cooked tokbokki, deep-fried tokbokki has a crispy outer layer, and inside are soft, chewy rice cakes. Dipping it in spicy chili sauce is perfect.
In addition, you can coat the outside with a layer of cheese powder to add richness and flavor to the fried tokbokki.
Vegetarian Tokbokki
For vegans, vegetarian tokbokki will certainly be a breath of fresh air, helping you enrich your list of delicious dishes.
With ingredients entirely from rice, you can use regular rice cakes or substitute rice paper, both are delicious. Tokbokki is cooked and seasoned just right, spicy and hot, very appealing.
With the information provided by Dien May XANH, you now have a better understanding of tokbokki and how to easily make it at home. We wish you many delicious meals with tokbokki and your family!
