One of my favorite animals is pandas. They are so cute and cuddly…I even have a panda pillow, and I am not kidding! So, I got really inspired by Pinterest bento ideas, especially ones that have a panda. There is not much work here, just read more
Beat the Heat with Korean Spicy Rice Cakes!
This heat wave has been relentless, hasn’t it? I’ve been trying to stay indoors as much as possible because even the thought of going to the pool with the kids is unbearable. Honestly, though, my schedule has kept me so busy that pool visits have been rare anyway.
The past few months have felt like a whirlwind, filled with blog-related work—nonstop but rewarding!
Now, let’s dive into something spicy to match this heat: Tteokbokki (or Ddeokbokki), Korean spicy rice cakes. You’ve probably seen this iconic dish in your favorite K-dramas or across the web. It’s a popular street food in Korea, but it also has a long history as part of the Korean Royal Court cuisine.
The main ingredient, garaetteok, is a type of Korean rice cake made by pounding steamed rice flour into long, cylindrical shapes.
The name “tteokbokki” breaks down into two parts: tteok (rice cake) and bokki (stir-fried). Originally, gungjung-tteokbokki—the royal court version—was a savory dish made with beef and vegetables.
However, today’s street food version is a spicy delight, often featuring fish cakes, green onions, boiled eggs, and a sweet-and-spicy sauce.
Vendors commonly serve it as a grab-and-go snack, either in cups or on skewers. The dish has evolved to include various levels of spiciness and even fusion-style twists, making it an ever-changing yet classic treat.
The texture of the rice cakes is wonderfully chewy—almost gummy—and when combined with the sauce, you get an addictive balance of spicy and sweet. To keep the flavors bold, I’ve added a few special touches to elevate the dish and fire up your taste buds.
My Take on Tteokbokki:
This recipe is designed to be approachable and customizable. The spiciness level is around 3.5 out of 5, but you can adjust the amount of gochujang (Korean red chili paste) to your liking.
Some people prefer a thinner, saucier dish, while others enjoy a thicker consistency. It’s up to you! Add more broth or water for a juicier version, or let it simmer down for a rich, thick sauce.
If you love spicy food, this one’s for you! Give it a try and let me know what you think. Who knows? It might just become your go-to comfort dish!
If you love Korean Cousine, then Korean Spicy Rice Cakes aka Tteokbokki (떡볶이) is a must.
You could use Vegetable stock if you are vegetarian and ditch the eggs and fish cakes if you are vegan. Also, beef or chicken broth could be used instead of the homemade stock. You can find Ingredients in Korean, Asian, or International Markets, or some could be purchased online.
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate, but we try our best.
Today’s recipe is as simple as you can see in the title, Grilled Marinated Tofu. The key is in the marinade and after it’s grilled the taste and aroma are just perfect balance of very satisfying, delicious and I must say easy side dish. Well, read more
As I said before this summer I will have a whole bunch of my favorite grilled recipes. Chicken flavored with sweet honey glaze and balanced with Teriyaki sauce, ginger and infused with strong garlic flavor gives you one harmonious taste. Brine plays a big part because it is just read more
Spicy Boneless Pork Spare Ribs is a type of dish that you can eat with rice, bread, or make a little lettuce wrap and enjoy as a tasty bite.
Daeji Bulgogi or Spicy pork is a popular Korean grilled dish, and it is pretty different from beef bulgogi.
Why is it other than one with beef, well, mainly because the marinade is not only soy sauce-based, but instead, marinade juices are based and heated up with gochujang and gochugaru (Korean red hot chili paste or powder)
Grill season is already here. I am so excited about it!
I love anything from the grill, and I don’t think that there is a person out there who doesn’t-at least I never met one!
We grill most of the year, except for December, January, and February when it cold and I do not feel like grilling outside.
My favorite grilled food is Cevapcici, which is similar to burgers in taste but looks like sausages, and, of course, Korean BBQ.
I could sit and eat all day and every day. I will share more of my favorite recipes from the grill this summer season.
This time I used boneless pork ribs because it cooks faster without the bones, but this marinade is fantastic for chicken(any part) or beef too, both grilled and baked or perhaps pan sauteed.
Either way, you go you will love it if you do enjoy eating spicy food. However, for those that can’t handle spicy/hot food, reduce and adjust how you like.
It is a beautiful balance of sweet, savory, and spicy, a very playful flavor in your mouth once you take a bite, but the aroma will get you first.
When you make these easy and tasty Spicy Boneless Pork Spare Ribs, please tag me on Instagram @sandraseasycooking. You can use the hashtag #sandraseasycooking so everyone could see it.
I would love to see it and with your permission share it! Thank you for your support!
Delcious and easy Korean inspured pork!
If you do not eat pork substitute with chicken or beef! You can cook meat with bones but let it grill longer.
3 years ago I would not consider eating avocado, even when I get California Roll I would pick them out. Then, one day it just clicked and I found myself liking the taste and the texture of the avocado more and more every day. Now, read more
Thai food ain’t about simplicity. It’s about the juggling of disparate elements to create a harmonious finish. Like a complex musical chord it’s got to have a smooth surface but it doesn’t matter what’s happening underneath. Simplicity isn’t the dictum here, at all. Some westerners read more
Happy April 1st My favorite month is finally here
I love April so I am sharing one my favorite to go lunches-it’s simple, easy, delicious and so colorful: Kimbap or Gimbap!
I had so much fun yesterday with the kids. It was raining, we stayed indoors but I already had a plan in my head how to make my kids entertained
Trust me if my 10 years old can do it, you can do it too.
Today they went to school proud of themselves because they prepared kimbap and their school lunch
I made Kimbap many times before but always with different filling and they are really versatile. You may use ingredients whatever you or your kids like. They are similar to Japanese Makizushi or Maki Roll (Futomaki-fat roll).
The difference is in rice preparation and any kind of Japanese rolls are usually served with soy sauce, wasabi and pickled ginger (gari). The Kimbap commonly is not.
Kimbap is a Korean traditional Picnic/Finger fast
food.
So let’s get started:
Delicious lunch box-kimbap
Who loves Chinese Food? I can see many hands up waving at me. Let me ask you, how many times monthly do you go to get takeouts? I hear ya! I am guilty as charged. I would go just to get my favorite dishes, especially read more
