Rice Cake Stir Fry with Soy Sauce (Gungjung Tteokbokki)

Step 1

If you have access to fresh rice cake, that's great. If not, no matter, just defrost frozen rice cakes by soaking in cold water first for 10 min. or more.

Step 2

Cook rice cakes in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until they are soft all the way through.

Step 3

Drain. Do not rinse. While it's still hot, add 1 T soy sauce and 1 T sesame oil. Toss. Set aside.

Step 4

Cut beef into thin strips (approx 1/4 in), against the grain. This is probably the most time consuming part of this recipe. EASY TIP: cut bulgogi meat into smaller pieces instead.

Step 5

Marinate beef strips in my apple lemon soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, sesame oil, honey, garlic mixture and let it sit while you prepare other ingredients.

Step 6

Substitute my bulgogi marinade. Also note that the amount of sauce is good for 1 lb of beef which is too much if it was just the meat but I wanted this sauce to season the entire dish and thus the extra sauce.

Step 7

Cut carrot lengthwise and then into thin slices diagonally so that the size is similar to your tteok piece.

Step 8

Tear 0yster mushrooms by hand into smaller pieces.

Step 9

Dried shitake mushrooms are probably the most authentic ingredient but these oyster mushrooms were so fresh looking at the market! King or enoki mushrooms will be good too~

Step 10

Cut 1/2 of a Korean leek first into 2 in long pieces and then quarter them.

Step 11

Cut onions into thin slices.

Step 12

Heat frying pan on med-high heat. Transfer beef (set aside any leftover marinade sauce) into the pan and saute the beef strips for 2-3 minutes.

Step 13

Saute carrots, onions and mushrooms (except for green onions) with the beef, 2-3 min.

Step 14

Add rice cakes and stir fry for 5-6 minutes until everything is evenly cooked.

Step 15

Taste. For kids snacks, keep the seasoning light and do not add the leftover marinade sauce. For side dishes, add some of the remaining beef marinade sauce for additional seasoning.

Step 16

Add green onions. For final seasoning, swirl in some honey and sesame oil before serving.

Step 17

Sprinkle some sesame seeds as garnish.