Article by Gil "hannaone"
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Image by hannaone: Tteokbokki on a Stick

Put a Stick in it!

떡볶이 - Spicy Stir Fried Rice Cake
Tteokbokki is a favorite in our restaurant. Initially it was only ordered by Koreans, Korean Americans, and people from Korean mixed cultural families.
With the popularity of K-Pop and K-Drama spreading, fans of these genres started ordering Tteokbokki because they either saw it in a K-Drama, or because their favorite K-Pop idol was seen eating it.
This recipe is a Korean Street Food fusion variety that includes smoked sausage and optional shredded cheese blend as ingredients.

Servings: 10

Recipe Type: Appetizer, Korean, Recipe, Snack, Street Food

Ingredients
1 pound tteok (round cylinder shape for tteokbokki)
12 ounces flat, round, or tubular odeng (Fish Cake)
12 ounces mini sausages (little smokies or similar)
1 teaspoon sesame seeds for garnish
2 ounces Mexican Style Cheese Blend
skewers

Anchovy Broth
1 ounce dried anchovies
1/2 ounce kelp (kombu/dashima/dasima)
2 cups water
1 slice onions
1 clove garlic

Tteokbokki Sauce
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon soy sauce
4 tablespoons fine ground gochugaru
2 tablespoons mulyeot
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 cups anchovy broth

Directions
If needed, soften the tteok in warm water until a skewer can be inserted easily. (A couple of seconds in a microwave also works)
If using flat sheet fish cake, cut into triangles with sides about equal to the length of a piece of tteok.
Thread the skewers through a piece of tteok, sausage, and fish cake (fold triangle loosely), repeat once, and end with a piece of tteok.

Anchovy Broth
Roughly chop the onion.
Slice the garlic into thirds from top to bottom.
Place dried anchovies and kelp in a pan and slowly toast over low heat.
Transfer toasted anchovies and kelp to a soup pot, add onion, garlic, and water, then gently heat to a slow simmer over low heat.
Simmer for 5 minutes.
Strain the broth and discard solids.

Tteokbokki Sauce
Fine mince the garlic.
Mix all ingredients in a pot or large skillet, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Bring to a slow simmer over medium low heat. Simmer for about ten minutes, stirring often.

Grill/Broiler
Place the skewers on hot grill and cook, turning often, until tteok begins to brown.
Brush the skewers with tteokbokki sauce, brown, turn, and repeat several times.

Skillet
Use two skillets.
Lightly coat the bottom of one pan with vegetable oil, and heat over medium heat.
Place the tteokbokki sauce in the second pan and bring to a simmer.
Place the skewers into the first hot pan and fry until lightly browned. Turn and repeat.
Transfer to the second pan and make sure the skewer gets coated with the sauce. Cook for about three to five minutes, turning occasionally. Repeat until done.
Serve
Put the cooked skewers onto plates, spoon on remaining tteokbokki sauce, sprinkle with sesame seeds and cheese.
Serve warm.