Today, we’re going to make something super special and unique. Ragu Tteokbokki! This inventive twist on classic tteokbokki promises a medley of rich flavours, all in one pot. Not only is it absolutely delicious, but it’s also a family-friendly recipe that cleverly incorporates those leftover veggies in your fridge.
What is Tteokbokki (Korean Rice Cakes)?
Tteokbokki (떡볶이) is a popular Korean street food and comfort dish. It features cylindrical or oval-shaped rice cakes made from glutinous rice flour! Generally, the rice cakes have a chewy, dense texture, similar to mochi but with a bit more bite. However, they are pretty bland on their own, so using them as a canvas to absorb sauces and flavours is the way to go!
How do you cook Tteokbokki?
Tteokbokki is typically cooked in a spicy and slightly sweet red chili pepper paste-based sauce known as gochujang
The sauce is rich, savory, and packs a bit of heat, though the spiciness can be adjusted to personal preference
It is also often eaten as street food, or as a side dish in restaurants and is relatively inexpensive
What does Ragu Tteokbokki taste like?
Even though you’re adding a tablespoon of Korean red pepper paste (gochujang), the sweetness of the fire roasted tomatoes and tomato paste actually mellows out the spice and the dish is not at all spicy. Even spice wimps like me can 100% enjoy this, as well as kids!!
You have to give it a try to know what I’m talking about. Just trust me on this. Of course, you can always omit the gochujang and it’ll still taste amazing. It just adds a depth of flavour to the dish that takes it to a whole other level.
450gtteokbokki (Korean rice cakes) – defrosted or fresh
1/3onion, chopped
1zucchini, chopped
10clovesgarlic, minced
2tbsptomato paste
1tbspgochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
340gground beef or plant based ground meat
1tbspItalian seasoning
Equipment
1 non-stick skillet or Always Pan
Method
On medium heat, add a bit of oil to non-stick skillet or Always Pan.
First, when the oil is hot, add in your ground beef or plant based ground meat. Stir fry for 30 seconds and add Italian seasoning. Mix well and toss for 30 more seconds to a minute (until all meat is heated through and thoroughly cooked).
Next, remove skillet from heat and set aside ground meat in a medium bowl.
Using the same skillet, place it back on the burner and bring the heat back to medium. Add a bit more oil.
Add in chopped onions and chopped zucchini.
Toss and cook for 3 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add in garlic and toss for 1 more minute.
Subsequently, add in your ground meat mixture as well as two cans or fire roasted tomatoes. If it needs more liquid, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup water as needed.
Add in your defrosted Korean rice cakes and mix well until all rice cakes are coated in liquid. Cover lid and let it cook/steam for 5 minutes.
Add in tomato paste and gochujang paste and mix well.
Bring heat to low and let it simmer for another 5 – 10 minutes or until rice cakes have completely soften. Make sure to mix often so nothing sticks to the pan.
Being able to bring my auntie & uncle to one of my favourite restaurants in HK was truly magical ✨🥺 @amberhongkong(listen for my uncontrollable Canto coming out 😂)As voted by Cathay members for the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026! 🏆And I CANNOT agree more 😭@cathaypacific | #cathaypacific #movebeyond #CathayMembersChoiceAwards2026 #mediaOne of the things I love most about this restaurant is that they serve food rooted in French techniques but it’s all dairy free! A lot of the items are gluten free too which is perfect for me ❤️🤯And you would never ever know by the taste because they execute it so friggin well 😭Part of their full Amber experience is the kitchen dining where you’re served a course while watching the hustle bustle of the kitchen! 👨🍳My aunt kept saying it was like watching those cooking/chef tv shows but LIVE 😂Perfect for wine/spirit lovers 🍶🍷By the way! If you’re a Cathay member, link and pay with a Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard® at Amber and earn up to HKD 4=2 miles! 🛫In the immersive wine cellar experience, you get to taste test wines and guess what they are with the sommelier!They also made some truffle Brie (this is dairy), and bites to go along with it… you gotta add this experience if you come🍷
HEI HEI RICE ROLL is finally open in Crystal Mall!!! 😭😭🔥I feel like we’ve been waiting years for this day… so I had to instantly give it a try 👍 can confirm it is just as good as the Richmond public market one. And DON’T FORGET TO GET THEIR CHILI OIL! 🔥#vancouverfoodie #crystalmall #heiheiriceroll
#PhillyPartner | Not @phillycreamchs coming up with a NEW Philadelphia Lactose Free Cream Cheese that helps all the lactose intolerant girlies like me! 🥹I made my favourite smoked salmon dill bagel sandwich using the viral chopped bagel hack, and legit, it’s one of my favorite bagel sandwiches!What recipe will you be making first with this new Philadelphia Lactose Free Cream Cheese? 😋#PhiladelphiaCreamCheese #choppedbagel #foodhack
Do any of my meals surprise you?? 🤣Honestly it’s been tough trying to eat healthy especially with work, recipe development, and all the travelling… but I’m trying!!! 💪If you guys have meal prep or high protein recipes to recommend, drop it in the comments pls! ⬇️⬇️#healthyeating #realisticeating #foodblogger
People café hop, I lounge hop 😂✈️Went from @cathaypacific‘s The Bridge to The Pier, First, and my biggest problem was NOT having enough stomach space to hit @mott32hk too 😭 Oh well, next time!!! 😏#movebeyond #cathaypacific
IS THIS THE MOST EPIC EGG SANDO EVER or WHAT?! 🤯| #ADComment “EGG” and I’ll DM you the full recipe!Still shocked I was able to recreate the VIRAL egg salad cloud sando from the famous Osaka shop in Japan 🇯🇵🥹 and I dare say… this is the best egg sandwich invention EVERRRThis entire sando (feeds 2) has 52+ grams of protein, and the eggs also provide vitamin D and choline, so go give it a try!! 💪🏻@eggsoeufs #eggsanytime
VIRAL Bánh ít ram FINALLY in Vancouver!!! 💪🤩So crispy on the bottom, chewy and QQ on the top (tastes kind of like a Chinese savoury tang yuan), and so good with chili oil 🔥Found it at @littlejasmineyvr in Vancouver thx to @gengduck! I paid $15 for this and it’s written on the wall (not on menu)👉🏻 Follow me for more food hacks + recipes + restaurant reccos!
HOLY COW! ✨🍕 This VIRAL Costco Pizza Hack was shockingly yummy!!@itsdoughguy you’re a genius 🧙♂️🪄I added my own flair to this Costco pizza:
– fresh mozzarella
– fresh basil
– Parmigiano Reggiano
– hot honey
– high quality EVOO!Will you try this?? 😂#costcopizza #foodhack #pizza
Could this lunch BE any more boujee?! (*in Chandler’s voice*)😅🤩Low key made this overflowing uni ikura bowl for lunch after getting some FRESH green sea urchin from my harvesting trip with @eatfish.ca / @diverscatchbc!! 🤪⬇️Tell me! Would you eat this?#uni #ikura #vancouverfoodie
I'm an OG foodie (aka social media dinosaur) who's been sharing restaurant recommendations, recipes, and foodie travel adventures since 2011, back when posting food photos online wasn't really a thing. What started as a hobby has grown into a community of over 650,000+ food lovers who continue to fuel my passion every day.
Being able to bring my auntie & uncle to one of my favourite restaurants in HK was truly magical ✨🥺 @amberhongkong(listen for my uncontrollable Canto coming out 😂)As voted by Cathay members for the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026! 🏆And I CANNOT agree more 😭@cathaypacific | #cathaypacific #movebeyond #CathayMembersChoiceAwards2026 #mediaOne of the things I love most about this restaurant is that they serve food rooted in French techniques but it’s all dairy free! A lot of the items are gluten free too which is perfect for me ❤️🤯And you would never ever know by the taste because they execute it so friggin well 😭Part of their full Amber experience is the kitchen dining where you’re served a course while watching the hustle bustle of the kitchen! 👨🍳My aunt kept saying it was like watching those cooking/chef tv shows but LIVE 😂Perfect for wine/spirit lovers 🍶🍷By the way! If you’re a Cathay member, link and pay with a Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard® at Amber and earn up to HKD 4=2 miles! 🛫In the immersive wine cellar experience, you get to taste test wines and guess what they are with the sommelier!They also made some truffle Brie (this is dairy), and bites to go along with it… you gotta add this experience if you come🍷
HEI HEI RICE ROLL is finally open in Crystal Mall!!! 😭😭🔥I feel like we’ve been waiting years for this day… so I had to instantly give it a try 👍 can confirm it is just as good as the Richmond public market one. And DON’T FORGET TO GET THEIR CHILI OIL! 🔥#vancouverfoodie #crystalmall #heiheiriceroll
#PhillyPartner | Not @phillycreamchs coming up with a NEW Philadelphia Lactose Free Cream Cheese that helps all the lactose intolerant girlies like me! 🥹I made my favourite smoked salmon dill bagel sandwich using the viral chopped bagel hack, and legit, it’s one of my favorite bagel sandwiches!What recipe will you be making first with this new Philadelphia Lactose Free Cream Cheese? 😋#PhiladelphiaCreamCheese #choppedbagel #foodhack
Do any of my meals surprise you?? 🤣Honestly it’s been tough trying to eat healthy especially with work, recipe development, and all the travelling… but I’m trying!!! 💪If you guys have meal prep or high protein recipes to recommend, drop it in the comments pls! ⬇️⬇️#healthyeating #realisticeating #foodblogger
People café hop, I lounge hop 😂✈️Went from @cathaypacific‘s The Bridge to The Pier, First, and my biggest problem was NOT having enough stomach space to hit @mott32hk too 😭 Oh well, next time!!! 😏#movebeyond #cathaypacific
IS THIS THE MOST EPIC EGG SANDO EVER or WHAT?! 🤯| #ADComment “EGG” and I’ll DM you the full recipe!Still shocked I was able to recreate the VIRAL egg salad cloud sando from the famous Osaka shop in Japan 🇯🇵🥹 and I dare say… this is the best egg sandwich invention EVERRRThis entire sando (feeds 2) has 52+ grams of protein, and the eggs also provide vitamin D and choline, so go give it a try!! 💪🏻@eggsoeufs #eggsanytime
VIRAL Bánh ít ram FINALLY in Vancouver!!! 💪🤩So crispy on the bottom, chewy and QQ on the top (tastes kind of like a Chinese savoury tang yuan), and so good with chili oil 🔥Found it at @littlejasmineyvr in Vancouver thx to @gengduck! I paid $15 for this and it’s written on the wall (not on menu)👉🏻 Follow me for more food hacks + recipes + restaurant reccos!
HOLY COW! ✨🍕 This VIRAL Costco Pizza Hack was shockingly yummy!!@itsdoughguy you’re a genius 🧙♂️🪄I added my own flair to this Costco pizza:
- fresh mozzarella
- fresh basil
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- hot honey
- high quality EVOO!Will you try this?? 😂#costcopizza #foodhack #pizza
450gtteokbokki (Korean rice cakes) - defrosted or fresh
1/3onion, chopped
1zucchini, chopped
10clovesgarlic, minced
2tbsptomato paste
1tbspgochujang (Korean red pepper paste)
340gground beef or plant based ground meat
1tbspItalian seasoning
Equipment
1non-stick skillet or Always Pan
1
On medium heat, add a bit of oil to non-stick skillet or Always Pan.
2
First, when the oil is hot, add in your ground beef or plant based ground meat. Stir fry for 30 seconds and add Italian seasoning. Mix well and toss for 30 more seconds to a minute (until all meat is heated through and thoroughly cooked).
3
Next, remove skillet from heat and set aside ground meat in a medium bowl.
4
Using the same skillet, place it back on the burner and bring the heat back to medium. Add a bit more oil.
5
Add in chopped onions and chopped zucchini.
6
Toss and cook for 3 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add in garlic and toss for 1 more minute.
7
Subsequently, add in your ground meat mixture as well as two cans or fire roasted tomatoes. If it needs more liquid, add 1/3 to 1/2 cup water as needed.
8
Add in your defrosted Korean rice cakes and mix well until all rice cakes are coated in liquid. Cover lid and let it cook/steam for 5 minutes.
9
Add in tomato paste and gochujang paste and mix well.
10
Bring heat to low and let it simmer for another 5 - 10 minutes or until rice cakes have completely soften. Make sure to mix often so nothing sticks to the pan.
