🥢 Authentic Vegetarian Korean Tteokbokki (From Scratch)

Servings: 2–3
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

---

🌾 Part 1: Homemade Rice Cakes (Garaetteok)

Ingredients

• 2 cups glutinous rice flour (sweet rice flour)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾–1 cup boiling hot water
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Method

1. Mix the rice flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Gradually pour in the boiling water while stirring until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth.
4. Steam the dough for 20 minutes.
5. While still warm, knead again for 3–5 minutes.
6. Roll into long cylinders about the thickness of your finger.
7. Cut into 5–6 cm pieces.
8. Lightly coat with sesame oil to prevent sticking.

---

🌶️ Part 2: Vegetarian Tteokbokki Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons gochujang (Korean red chilli paste)
• 1 tablespoon gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes, optional)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 cups vegetable stock (or water)
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Mix all the ingredients until smooth.

---

🥬 Vegetables

• ½ onion, sliced
• 1 cup cabbage, chopped
• 2 spring onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
• ½ cup mushrooms (optional)
• 150 g firm tofu or paneer (optional)

---

🍳 Cooking Instructions

1. Bring the vegetable stock to a boil.
2. Add the prepared sauce and stir well.
3. Add the homemade rice cakes.
4. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add the onion, cabbage, mushrooms, and tofu or paneer (if using).
6. Continue cooking for another 5–7 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the sauce becomes thick and glossy.
7. Add the spring onions during the last minute of cooking.
8. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and a drizzle of sesame oil.

---

🌟 Optional Add-ins (Vegetarian)

• Mozzarella cheese
• Tofu
• Paneer
• Corn
• Mushrooms
• Ramen noodles
• Vegetarian dumplings (mandu)

---