Easy Carbonara Tteokbokki Recipe - Wasian Cookery (2024)

Try My special Carbonara Tteokbokki recipe that mixes Korean and Italian flavors. It’s yummy rice cakes in a creamy sauce with bacon and fresh cilantro. Easy to make and super tasty – a fun twist on regular food!

Easy Carbonara Tteokbokki Recipe - Wasian Cookery (1)

Carbonara Tteokbokki is a fusion dish combining elements of Italian and Korean cuisine. Tteokbokki is a popular Korean street food dish consisting of chewy rice cakes (tteok) cooked in a sweet and spicy gochujang-based sauce. Carbonara, on the other hand, is an Italian pasta dish known for its creamy sauce made with eggs, cheese, and bacon or pancetta.

In Carbonara Tteokbokki, the traditional rice cakes are immersed in a creamy carbonara sauce, adding a rich and savory dimension to the sweet and spicy flavors of the classic Tteokbokki. The dish typically includes bacon, onions, and garlic, creating a unique combination of Korean and Italian flavors. It’s a creative and delicious example of how different culinary traditions can come together to create something new and exciting.

  • 1 pound (450g) Korean cylinder-shaped rice cakes (tteok)
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
Easy Carbonara Tteokbokki Recipe - Wasian Cookery (2)
  1. Prepare the Tteok:
    • Soak the Korean rice cakes in warm water for about 30 minutes until softened. Drain and set aside.
  2. Sauté Aromatics:
    • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat.
    • Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened.
  3. Cook Bacon:
    • Add the chopped bacon to the pan and cook until it becomes crispy.
  4. Make Carbonara Sauce:
    • Pour in the whole milk, grated Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
    • Stir continuously until the cheeses melt and the sauce becomes creamy.
  5. Combine Tteok and Sauce:
    • Add the soaked rice cakes to the pan, stirring to coat them in the creamy carbonara sauce.
  6. Season:
    • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
  7. Garnish:
    • Sprinkle fresh cilantro leaves on top for freshness and added flavor.
  8. Serve:
    • Remove from heat once the rice cakes are tender and coated in the delicious sauce.
  • Before cooking, soak the Korean rice cakes in warm water for 30 minutes. This makes them soft and ready for the creamy sauce.
  • If you like more spice, add extra gochujang. For less spice, use less. Make it just right for you!

To store Carbonara Tteokbokki, let any remaining portions cool to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer the dish into an airtight container, ensuring a tight seal to preserve its freshness. For optimal taste and quality, store in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days.

For longer storage, consider freezing the Carbonara Tteokbokki. Place it in a freezer-safe container, making sure it’s well-sealed to prevent freezer burn. Although the rice cakes may have a slightly altered texture after freezing, the dish can be stored in the freezer for up to a month.

When ready to enjoy your stored Tteokbokki again, simply reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a splash of milk during reheating to restore the creamy texture. Stir occasionally until the dish is thoroughly heated. Remember to assess the quality before consuming and avoid excessive reheating to maintain the best taste and texture.

Can I prepare Carbonara Tteokbokki ahead of time for a party or gathering?

  • Yes, you can make the Carbonara Tteokbokki in advance. However, for the best texture, consider storing the rice cakes separately from the sauce until closer to serving time.

What other garnishes can I use besides cilantro for added freshness?

  • Feel free to experiment with additional garnishes like chopped green onions, a squeeze of lime juice, or even a sprinkle of crushed peanuts for an extra layer of flavor and texture.

Can I use different types of cheese in the Carbonara sauce?

  • Absolutely! While the recipe suggests Parmesan and mozzarella, you can explore other cheese varieties like cheddar or Gouda for a unique twist on the traditional Carbonara flavor.

Is there a substitute for bacon in Carbonara Tteokbokki?

  • Yes, you can substitute bacon with other proteins like diced ham, smoked sausage, or even tofu for a vegetarian option. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Easy Carbonara Tteokbokki Recipe - Wasian Cookery (3)

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Total time

1

hour

10

minutes

Try My special Carbonara Tteokbokki recipe that mixes Korean and Italian flavors. It’s yummy rice cakes in a creamy sauce with bacon and fresh cilantro.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) Korean cylinder-shaped rice cakes (tteok)

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 tablespoons oil

  • 4 slices bacon, chopped

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

  • Salt and pepper to taste

  • Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Directions

  • Prepare the Tteok:
  • Soak the Korean rice cakes in warm water for about 30 minutes until softened. Drain and set aside.
  • Sauté Aromatics:
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat.
  • Add chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until softened.
  • Cook Bacon:
  • Add the chopped bacon to the pan and cook until it becomes crispy.
  • Make Carbonara Sauce:
  • Pour in the whole milk, grated Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese.
  • Stir continuously until the cheeses melt and the sauce becomes creamy.
  • Combine Tteok and Sauce:
  • Add the soaked rice cakes to the pan, stirring to coat them in the creamy carbonara sauce.
  • Season:
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed.
  • Garnish:
  • Sprinkle fresh cilantro leaves on top for a burst of freshness and added flavor.
  • Serve:
  • Once the rice cakes are tender and coated in the delicious sauce, remove them from the heat.

Notes

  • Before cooking, soak the Korean rice cakes in warm water for 30 minutes. This makes them soft and ready for the creamy sauce.
  • If you like more spice, add extra gochujang. For less spice, use less. Make it just right for you!
Easy Carbonara Tteokbokki Recipe - Wasian Cookery (2024)

FAQs

What are the two types of tteokbokki? ›

While the spicy, saucy iteration of the dish is by far the most popular, you'll also find these tteok stir-fried with soy sauce (ganjang tteokbokki) and shallow-fried in oil (gireum tteokbokki).

Why is my tteokbokki falling apart? ›

If your tteokbokki keep splitting and cracking, it's because your rice cakes are too dry and freezer burnt. They may have been frozen and defrosted more than once. If you have problems with them splitting, try soaking them in cold water and letting them defrost slowly overnight in the fridge.

What makes carbonara so good? ›

Guanciale – This is a key ingredient in carbonara, and is a cured fatty pork that is similar to bacon and pancetta. It adds adds flavour into the dish and the fat makes the sauce creamy when mixed with the egg and starchy pasta cooking water.

What is the golden rule of cooking a carbonara? ›

The golden rule to silky carbonara is to whisk your egg whites so that they're completely incorporated with the egg yolks.

What not to put in carbonara? ›

What not to put in Spaghetti Carbonara? Don't put garlic, cream, milk or butter. It is not needed. It is fine if you want to make a dish with those ingredients, but if you want to learn how to make this dish correctly, use only pecorino, eggs/egg yolks, black pepper, guanciale, and pasta water.

What does tteokbokki mean in English? ›

Tteok means rice cake and bokki stir-fried food. Combining these two words forms the term tteokbokki, or “stir-fried rice cake.” Ask Koreans what food makes them most nostalgic about their childhood and tteokbokki is the first thing they'll say.

What is the Chinese version of tteokbokki? ›

Shanghai stir-fried rice cakes have a sweeter flavor due to the addition of hoisin sauce. Unlike the Korean stir-fried rice cakes recipe called tteokbokki, this Shanghai-style rice cake recipe is less spicy, sweeter, and has less sauce.

What is best paired with tteokbokki? ›

Here are our recommendations, so you can get the best out of your spicy Korean rice cake (tteokbokki).
  • Stir-fried Noodles. Stir-fried noodles and spicy Korean rice cake might be a match made in heaven. ...
  • Korean Soybean Paste Stew. ...
  • Fried Chicken. ...
  • Deep-fried Calamares. ...
  • Adjust to your preference.

What can you add to tteokbokki? ›

Ways to enjoy tteokbokki

You can add eggs to it, ramen noodles, and use the sauce as dip for other street foods. A very common way to eat tteokbokki is any combination with twigim (tempura), mandu (dumplings), soondae (blood sausage), and odeng broth (fish cake broth).

Why is my homemade tteokbokki not chewy? ›

Though all rice cakes taste like pounded rice (even the ones made with brown rice vary little in their taste), the specific shape dramatically affects the texture. Thin slices are significantly less chewy than large, cylindrical rice cakes that are genuinely toothsome in the degree of their chewiness.

How do you know when tteokbokki is done? ›

Stir gently with a wooden spoon when it starts to boil. Let it simmer and keep stirring until the rice cake turns soft and the tteokbokki sauce thickens and looks shiny, which should take about 10 to 15 minutes. If the rice cake is not soft enough, add more water and continue stirring until it softens.

What are the biggest carbonara mistakes? ›

1. Adding your eggs while the pasta is still on the heat. This is one of the most common mistakes when making carbonara. It is very easy to end up with pasta a la scrambled eggs instead.

What thickens carbonara? ›

Now quickly pour in the eggs and cheese. Using the tongs or a long fork, lift up the spaghetti so it mixes easily with the egg mixture, which thickens but doesn't scramble, and everything is coated. Add extra pasta cooking water to keep it saucy (several tablespoons should do it).

Should there be garlic in carbonara? ›

Must-have ingredients

that there are only five ingredients: pasta, pork cheek, eggs, cheese and pepper. That's it. A real carbonara does not contain onion, garlic, or cream.

How to make jar carbonara sauce better? ›

Fresh herbs make all the difference in any pasta sauce, so if you have some lying around, they will really perk up a jarred sauce. Obviously, basil is classic, but thyme, rosemary, sage, marjoram, and oregano are all great in pasta sauce. Fresh parsley also makes anything sing, as do chives.

How to stop eggs from scrambling in carbonara? ›

Using a large mixing bowl and setting it over the boiling pasta water to create a makeshift double boiler helps prevent you from accidentally scrambling the eggs.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lilliana Bartoletti

Last Updated:

Views: 6338

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lilliana Bartoletti

Birthday: 1999-11-18

Address: 58866 Tricia Spurs, North Melvinberg, HI 91346-3774

Phone: +50616620367928

Job: Real-Estate Liaison

Hobby: Graffiti, Astronomy, Handball, Magic, Origami, Fashion, Foreign language learning

Introduction: My name is Lilliana Bartoletti, I am a adventurous, pleasant, shiny, beautiful, handsome, zealous, tasty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.