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2.08.2014

Foodie Goodie | Instant Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cake).

Tteokbokki or topokki (others refer to this as ddukbeokki) is a dish made by sauteing cylindrical rice cakes (tteok) in red pepper paste (kochujang). It's a very popular snack in Korea, and can be bought in restaurants, street carts, and even convenience stores.

I've seen all sorts of tteokbokki from all the Korean dramas and variety shows that I've watched. There's haemool tteokbokki, which is made with seafood: jjajang tteokbokki, which is made with black bean sauce, and then there's rapokki - tteokbokki with ramen noodles. But I've always been curious with the traditional tteokbokki - the one in spicy red sauce.

Luckily, I chanced upon some instant tteokbokki while I was at the supermarket yesterday. Without thinking twice, I grabbed a pack, together with a pack of instant jjajangmyun which I will be sharing in a different post.
Yopokki - instant tteokbokki!
This 320 gram pack of Yopokki serves two, and sells for Php 164. I did a bit of research and found out that this brand is manufactured by OK Food of Korea. This instant tteokbokki also comes in 200 gram bowls similar to that of cup noodles, though there were none available at the local supermarket.
Yopokki from OK Food.
Cooking is a breeze. Simply put the tteok (rice cakes) in a saucepan, add 100 mL of water, and let it boil for five minutes.
Tteok + kochujang. :)
Add the spicy sauce once it starts boiling, and let it simmer for another two minutes before serving.
Tteokbokki in a flash! 
So how do I find this instant tteokbokki?
It's pretty good, although I can't really compare it with the regular tteokbokki since I haven't tried one yet. The tteok is soft and chewy, and the sauce is sweet, salty, and spicy all at the same time. The spiciness stands out, but it's not too overwhelming. For someone who is not a big fan of spicy food (yes, that's me) the spiciness of this one is tolerable.

I'm thinking of buying another pack next time and try to amp the dish up by adding ramen and hard-boiled eggs. Heol, I am being ambitious after a first successful attempt at the instant kind. Haha!

How about you, have you tried tteokbokki before? :)

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

18 comments:

  1. Not a fan of Korean food so I haven't tried this one out yet >.<

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  2. I have no idea what is the taste of rice cake but i am a fan of korean foods and also some hot n spicy delicacies. This is nice - a ready to eat food. Must try - thanks for sharing

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  3. I have no idea what is the taste of a rice cake but i am a fan of korean foods and hot n spicy delicacies so I must give this a try especially it is ready to eat.

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  4. Oh I want to try this too. I love spicy food! Haven't tried rice cake before but I think I will like it as well :)

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  5. I am not sure about the spice, but I love the noodles and could have fun improvising with maybe a tomato-based sauce.

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  6. This looks so yummy! I haven't had much korean besides kimchi and I LOVE that! Can't wait to try this!

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  7. Sweet, salty, and spicy all at once? I bet that really is good!

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  8. To be honest I have never heard of it. I have not had a lot of Korean food, but it certainly look delicious.

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  9. Never heard of them before but the glaze looks delicious.

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  10. I'm not that crazy about dukbokki but my friend is so I'll let her know about this product. :)

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  11. Super fan of Korean foods!!! And this looks very yummy!!! <3 <3 <3

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  12. ive never tried anything like it sis, but how you described it and how it looks like reminds me of sweet and sour fish :D kakagutom ^^

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  13. First time to hear and see this type of food! I'm learning a lot of Korean stuff from you, hehehehe... but I appreciate the heat from Korean dishes and I'm familiar with the kochujang paste I use for the samgyupsal.

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  14. I haven't tried tteokbokki yet. It's actually my first time to hear it, but I'm interested because you said it's spicy! -- Maria Teresa Figuerres

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  15. i haven't tasted one yet, but have watched Oli Pettigrew munch on some sidewalk dishes that looks similarly like your rice cakes (while he was in Korea). looks delicious!

    thanks so much for sharing and linking over at Food Friday, sis
    enjoy the rest of the week!

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  16. Hi Cindy! Glad to know you've tried kimchi before. :)

    Hi Rhea! Naku, I envy you kasi napaka-accessible ng mga Korean restos sa yo. Here in the province I have to make do with supermarket food or go all the way to Sta. Rosa/Tagaytay/Alabang kung gusto ko kumain sa Korean resto, haha.

    Hi Michelle, hehe thanks!

    Hi Maiylah, always a pleasure to share my food posts with you! :)

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  17. Saang supermarket po kayo nakabili? I got addicted to it after I tasted it in Seoul. It's very delish even with Ramyun. That's the best korean street food I've tasted so far.

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  18. Hi Monina! Bought this at SM Supermarket. :)

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