Food of Korea

Tteokguk

Tteokguk is a Korean traditional dish that is most commonly eaten during Seollal, which is basically Korean thanksgiving. It symbolizes the Seollal new year and the dish reminds us of the new year and the meaning of family. In Korea it is also said that 1 year is added to your age on Seollal. There's a saying that one cannot get older until they've eaten a bowl of tteokguk.

As a kid my mom would make me tteokguk on other occassions as well, like when the weather was cold or I was feeling sick. Since tteokguk is a very soupy and warm dish, it is perfect for those occassions.

And now, for the recipe!

You will need:

  • 1 pound store-bought sliced tteok rice cakes or homemade rice cakes (store-bought or homemade, if they are frozen, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes and drain before using)
  • 7 cups water
  • ½ pound beef (flank steak or brisket), chopped into small pieces
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 dae-pa large green onion (or 3 green onions), washed and sliced thinly and diagonally.
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or soup soy sauce to your taste)
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 sheet of dried seaweed paper (gim aka nori)
  • 1 red pepper (optional), chopped

    • Instructions:

    1. Bring the water to a boil in a heavy pot over high heat and add the beef and garlic and cook for 5 minutes.

    2. Turn the heat down to medium, cover, and cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the beef is tender and has infused the water with flavor.

    3. Roast both sides of a sheet of gim until it’s bright green and very crispy. Put it in a plastic bag and crush it by hand. Set aside.

    4. Separate the egg yolks from the whites of two eggs, putting yolks and whites into separate bowls. Add pinch of salt to each and mix with a fork. Remove the stringy chalaza from the yolks.

    5. Add the cooking oil to a heated non-stick pan. Swirl the oil around so it covers the pan, and then wipe off the excess with a kitchen towel, leaving a thin oily layer on the pan.

    6. Turn off the heat. Pour the egg yolk mixture into the pan and tilt it so it spreads evenly and thinly. Let it cook on the hot pan for about 1 minute. Flip it over and let it sit on the pan for another minute, then take it off, slice it into thin strips and set it aside.

    7. Add the rice cake slices to the boiling soup along with fish sauce and kosher salt. Stir it with a ladle. Cover and let it cook for 7 to 8 minutes until all the rice cakes are floated and are softened throughout. Pour the egg whites by little by little into the soup and cook for 30 seconds.

    8.Add sesame oil, ground black pepper, and chopped green onion. Stir the soup. Remove from the heat and ladle the rice cake soup into individual serving bowls. Garnish with yellow egg strips, crushed seaweed, and red pepper if you want.

    9. Serve it right away, with kimchi and more side dishes if you want. If you wait too long the rice cakes will get soggy, so everybody dig in and enjoy!