Tteok – cHow Divine

January 31, 2014July 17, 2021

Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup)

Happy (Lunar) New Year everyone! I hope this post finds everyone happy and well.

In a Korean home, a new year celebration always involves tteokguk or manduguk. When I was little, I was told that I couldn’t become a year older if I didn’t consume a bowl of tteok guk on New Year’s Day. Although that sounds like a nice proposition at this point in my life, I couldn’t wait to get older back then. But one thing has stayed constant. I still don’t need any excuses to devour a bowl of tteokguk. It’s one of my favorite cold-weather soups.

Continue Reading Tteokguk (Korean Rice Cake Soup) . . .

April 8, 2012June 20, 2012

Bulgogi Ddukbokki (Non-Spicy Sautéed Korean Rice Cakes)

I’m not a huge meat eater. But I’ve been eating red meat more often lately.

I’m not crazy about cooking and handling raw meat. I’m a bit of a germaphobe. But more importantly, I really liked the idea of having a positive impact on the environment by curtailing my meat consumption.

Continue Reading Bulgogi Ddukbokki (Non-Spicy Sautéed Korean Rice Cakes) . . .

January 5, 2012February 4, 2013

Tteok Manduguk (Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup)

My grandmother used to tell me that I couldn’t ring in the New Year without having some Tteok Manduguk (Korean Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup) according to Korean tradition. Who am I to argue with this long-standing tradition?

I’ve been eating Tteok Manduguk on New Year’s Day as far back as I can remember. When I was young, my grandmother made EVERYTHING from scratch: the filling, the mandu skin, and the broth. I don’t have the luxury of my grandmother’s cooking anymore – haven’t for a few years now. But I still consume tons of the soup come every New Year’s Day, usually at a restaurant.

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November 9, 2011July 17, 2012

Ddukbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) – The Ultimate Street Food

Ddukbokki is hands down my favorite street food. That’s saying a lot, considering the number of street foods available just in Korea.

When I was in fifth grade, my parents sent me and my brother to Korea to visit my grandparents. That was the last time I had totally authentic Korean street food. But I remember the taste of ddukbokki like it was yesterday. Since then, I had ddukbokki at many (some fancy) restaurants, but none compares to the simple, street-vendor-style ddukbokki I enjoyed so much as a little girl.

Continue Reading Ddukbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) – The Ultimate Street Food . . .