Rice cake sticks for tteokbokki
Tteokbokki-Tteok
Tteokbokki-tteok (떡볶이 떡) are plain Korean rice cake sticks that become soft and chewy in sauce. They are different from crisp rice crackers and sweet filled rice cakes.
Recipes using this ingredient
Full ingredient guide
Tteokbokki-tteok (떡볶이 떡) are the plain, chewy Korean rice-cake sticks used in tteokbokki. They soften during cooking and hold the sweet, spicy sauce. They are different from crispy puffed rice snacks or sweet filled rice cakes.
Choosing the right packet
Look for plain cylinder-shaped rice cakes labeled tteokbokki-tteok, topokki rice cakes or rice cake sticks. Compare the ingredient list, shape and package weight. Rice cakes sold with sauce in a ready-made meal kit are a different purchase from the plain ingredient used in this recipe.
Where to find them
Try a Korean or other Asian grocery store, including its chilled or frozen sections. Some products are vacuum-packed. For online shopping, choose a food retailer that delivers to your country and check whether the product needs chilled or frozen delivery. Availability and storage instructions depend on the product.
Preparing them for tteokbokki
Follow the instructions on your packet for thawing, rinsing or soaking. Separate pieces that are stuck together before cooking. Frozen or firm rice cakes can need more preparation than fresh ones, so a single soaking time will not suit every product.
The Hansik Young tteokbokki recipe uses 300 g for 2 servings. Cook until the centers are soft and chewy, stirring so the rice cakes do not stick to the pan. If the sauce reduces before they soften, add a small splash of water and continue cooking gently.
Can I use another shape?
Thin rice-cake slices used in soup have a different shape and can cook differently. Plain tteokbokki sticks are the closest choice for the linked recipe. Noodles or crispy rice snacks do not give the same texture.
Keeping the remaining rice cakes
Follow the storage instructions and dates on the package, including the instructions after opening. A sealed packet is not necessarily suitable for room-temperature storage. Keep chilled or frozen products under the conditions specified by the manufacturer.
Where to buy it
- Korean or Asian grocery stores; check chilled and frozen sections
- Online shops delivering the appropriate chilled or frozen product to your country
How to use it
- Tteokbokki in a sweet and spicy sauce
- Recipes that call for plain rice cake sticks
What to check
- Choose plain sticks rather than a ready-made kit with sauce; compare the packet weight with the recipe amount.
- Check whether your packet needs thawing, rinsing or soaking. Fresh and frozen products need different preparation.
- Separate pieces before cooking and cook until soft inside. If the sauce thickens first, follow the recipe and add a little water as needed.
Can you substitute it?
Thin soup rice cake slices cook differently. Noodles, crisp rice crackers and sweet filled rice cakes do not replace the texture of plain tteokbokki sticks.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Tteokbokki-Tteok?
Korean or Asian grocery stores; check chilled and frozen sections, Online shops delivering the appropriate chilled or frozen product to your country
How do I use Tteokbokki-Tteok?
Tteokbokki in a sweet and spicy sauce, Recipes that call for plain rice cake sticks
Can I substitute Tteokbokki-Tteok?
Thin soup rice cake slices cook differently. Noodles, crisp rice crackers and sweet filled rice cakes do not replace the texture of plain tteokbokki sticks.
How should I store Tteokbokki-Tteok?
Follow the packet temperature and storage instructions, including after opening. Vacuum packaging does not automatically mean room-temperature storage.