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.
@eatingwithkirby I flew all the way to Hong Kong to personally visit the WINNERS of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 ✨🥹 AND to let YOU know if it’s worth visiting!!🏆 Hong Kong’s Best New Bar @montanabarhk
🏆 Asia’s Most Innovative Restaurant @wingrestaurant_hkClick the link in my bio for the full list of Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 winners/offers |@cathaypacificAnd make sure to follow because I have more content to come from my Cathay trip 🫶[m e d i a] #cathaypacific #movebeyond #cathaymemberschoiceawards2026
The fishball had places to be 🥲Realities of trying to film a taste test 30,000 ft in the sky LOL 🤣✈️ @cathaypacific#behindthescenes #travelcontentcreator #foodblogger
💜 I made Iced Ube Coconut Vietnamese Coffee using @hanoidrip.coffee ‘s coffee beans (ok technically it’s purple yam, but Ube rolls off the tongue better!)I mentioned it before but I only use their Vietnamese coffee beans to make coffee at home now because it’s just SO DANG GOOD 😭🫶🏼If you want to recreate it, you can grab their beans online or at any Hanoi Drip location across Canada 🇨🇦 Use code EATINGWITHKIRBY online before the end of August to get a FREE Corgi Hanoi Drip tote bag (that I co-created with them!) with your coffee purchase! 🐾Would you try recreating this at home?#ad #hanoidrip #vietnamesecoffee #ubecoffee
NGL I squealed like a little girl when I saw this 🥹💕I don’t know if most people would think it’s a big deal but for me, it truly is 🤗As long as you do something you love with passion and resilience… eventually, in time, opportunities like this will come along and validate all those years of hard work ☺️ Thank you a million times over for sticking with with me and for supporting my channel! 💕I’m currently in HK to do something special with @cathaypacific 👀… and it involves the winners of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards so stay tuned! 🏆#cathaypacific #movebeyond #CathayMembersChoiceAwards2026 #MovingEveryTasteMaker
@eatingwithkirby 🔥 SOUND ON to hear the CRUNCH!!No joke, the salt breads from @teapurin are ridiculously good 🥹 Every flavour HITTTS and it satisfied my craving for Korean salt bread big time 🤣Thx for letting me try them @teapurin! 🙏🥰#saltbread #vancouver #foodie
Made lunch for me and my hubby in 5 mins 💪🏻🤩Pretty shocked that this @tangle_pasta has 15g of protein and 4-7g of fiber per bowl!! The Creamy Mushroom flavor is my fav but both are delicious! Tangle is also doing a Costco Roadshow Program at 8 different Costco locations in LA and San Diego. Check them out 🛒August 20–23
📍 7095 Market Place Dr, Goleta, CA
📍 2700 Park Ave, Tustin, CA
📍 2001 E Ventura Blvd, Oxnard, CA
📍 13463 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA
📍 2030 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA
📍 12350 Carmel Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA
📍 650 Gateway Center Dr, San Diego, CA
📍 1130 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA#tangle #tanglepasta
Here’s another RICE COOKER SAGO recipe because clearly the Mango version hit a nerve 🤣 This time, let’s do it with Purple Yam! 💜🍠Comment “SAGO” for the full recipe + tips on how to do this properly 👍@eatingwithkirby 👈🏻 follow for more easy hacks + recipes like this!#ricecooker #sago #purpleyamcoconutsago
[giveaway closed] No joke, my raspberry pistachio toast was UNREAL 🥹| #ADI’m partnering with @panasonic to give away one Panasonic Blender and Soup Maker to a lucky winner!Here are the rules!
– follow @eatingwithkirby
– follow @panasonic
– like this reelTag unlimited friends separately in the comments. No duplicates!Deadline for entries is Aug 9th @ 8pm. The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via DM. Open to all Canadian residents. 🇨🇦The giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.#PanasonicCanada #PanasonicKitchenGOOD LUCK!
✅ Checked this off the bucket list!TY @eatfish.everyday and @diverscatchbc for letting me tag along your uni & sea cucumber harvesting trip! 🥹⛴️By the way, if you like unlimited uni, sea cucumber, and geoduck, you should 100% buy tix to the upcoming Divers Catch Gala on Sept 19th 🤭(Not sponsored) #vancouverfoodie #uni #harvestingtrip
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.
@eatingwithkirby I flew all the way to Hong Kong to personally visit the WINNERS of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 ✨🥹 AND to let YOU know if it’s worth visiting!!🏆 Hong Kong’s Best New Bar @montanabarhk
🏆 Asia’s Most Innovative Restaurant @wingrestaurant_hkClick the link in my bio for the full list of Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 winners/offers |@cathaypacificAnd make sure to follow because I have more content to come from my Cathay trip 🫶[m e d i a] #cathaypacific #movebeyond #cathaymemberschoiceawards2026
The fishball had places to be 🥲Realities of trying to film a taste test 30,000 ft in the sky LOL 🤣✈️ @cathaypacific#behindthescenes #travelcontentcreator #foodblogger
💜 I made Iced Ube Coconut Vietnamese Coffee using @hanoidrip.coffee ‘s coffee beans (ok technically it’s purple yam, but Ube rolls off the tongue better!)I mentioned it before but I only use their Vietnamese coffee beans to make coffee at home now because it’s just SO DANG GOOD 😭🫶🏼If you want to recreate it, you can grab their beans online or at any Hanoi Drip location across Canada 🇨🇦 Use code EATINGWITHKIRBY online before the end of August to get a FREE Corgi Hanoi Drip tote bag (that I co-created with them!) with your coffee purchase! 🐾Would you try recreating this at home?#ad #hanoidrip #vietnamesecoffee #ubecoffee
NGL I squealed like a little girl when I saw this 🥹💕I don’t know if most people would think it’s a big deal but for me, it truly is 🤗As long as you do something you love with passion and resilience… eventually, in time, opportunities like this will come along and validate all those years of hard work ☺️ Thank you a million times over for sticking with with me and for supporting my channel! 💕I’m currently in HK to do something special with @cathaypacific 👀… and it involves the winners of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards so stay tuned! 🏆#cathaypacific #movebeyond #CathayMembersChoiceAwards2026 #MovingEveryTasteMaker
@eatingwithkirby 🔥 SOUND ON to hear the CRUNCH!!No joke, the salt breads from @teapurin are ridiculously good 🥹 Every flavour HITTTS and it satisfied my craving for Korean salt bread big time 🤣Thx for letting me try them @teapurin! 🙏🥰#saltbread #vancouver #foodie
Made lunch for me and my hubby in 5 mins 💪🏻🤩Pretty shocked that this @tangle_pasta has 15g of protein and 4-7g of fiber per bowl!! The Creamy Mushroom flavor is my fav but both are delicious! Tangle is also doing a Costco Roadshow Program at 8 different Costco locations in LA and San Diego. Check them out 🛒August 20–23
📍 7095 Market Place Dr, Goleta, CA
📍 2700 Park Ave, Tustin, CA
📍 2001 E Ventura Blvd, Oxnard, CA
📍 13463 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA
📍 2030 N Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA
📍 12350 Carmel Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA
📍 650 Gateway Center Dr, San Diego, CA
📍 1130 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA#tangle #tanglepasta
Here’s another RICE COOKER SAGO recipe because clearly the Mango version hit a nerve 🤣 This time, let’s do it with Purple Yam! 💜🍠Comment “SAGO” for the full recipe + tips on how to do this properly 👍@eatingwithkirby 👈🏻 follow for more easy hacks + recipes like this!#ricecooker #sago #purpleyamcoconutsago
[giveaway closed] No joke, my raspberry pistachio toast was UNREAL 🥹| #ADI’m partnering with @panasonic to give away one Panasonic Blender and Soup Maker to a lucky winner!Here are the rules!
- follow @eatingwithkirby
- follow @panasonic
- like this reelTag unlimited friends separately in the comments. No duplicates!Deadline for entries is Aug 9th @ 8pm. The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via DM. Open to all Canadian residents. 🇨🇦The giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.#PanasonicCanada #PanasonicKitchenGOOD LUCK!
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.
![@eatingwithkirby I flew all the way to Hong Kong to personally visit the WINNERS of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 ✨🥹 AND to let YOU know if it’s worth visiting!!🏆 Hong Kong’s Best New Bar @montanabarhk
🏆 Asia’s Most Innovative Restaurant @wingrestaurant_hkClick the link in my bio for the full list of Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 winners/offers |@cathaypacificAnd make sure to follow because I have more content to come from my Cathay trip 🫶[m e d i a] #cathaypacific #movebeyond #cathaymemberschoiceawards2026](https://eatingwithkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/773612861_18619704226021907_2507936349440393217_n-359x640.jpg)
![[giveaway closed] No joke, my raspberry pistachio toast was UNREAL 🥹| #ADI’m partnering with @panasonic to give away one Panasonic Blender and Soup Maker to a lucky winner!Here are the rules!
- follow @eatingwithkirby
- follow @panasonic
- like this reelTag unlimited friends separately in the comments. No duplicates!Deadline for entries is Aug 9th @ 8pm. The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via DM. Open to all Canadian residents. 🇨🇦The giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.#PanasonicCanada #PanasonicKitchenGOOD LUCK!](https://eatingwithkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/760443955_18614823967021907_2593922243321710302_n-360x640.jpg)
![@eatingwithkirby I flew all the way to Hong Kong to personally visit the WINNERS of the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 ✨🥹 AND to let YOU know if it’s worth visiting!!🏆 Hong Kong’s Best New Bar @montanabarhk
🏆 Asia’s Most Innovative Restaurant @wingrestaurant_hkClick the link in my bio for the full list of Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026 winners/offers |@cathaypacificAnd make sure to follow because I have more content to come from my Cathay trip 🫶[m e d i a] #cathaypacific #movebeyond #cathaymemberschoiceawards2026](https://eatingwithkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/773612861_18619704226021907_2507936349440393217_n.jpg)
![[giveaway closed] No joke, my raspberry pistachio toast was UNREAL 🥹| #ADI’m partnering with @panasonic to give away one Panasonic Blender and Soup Maker to a lucky winner!Here are the rules!
- follow @eatingwithkirby
- follow @panasonic
- like this reelTag unlimited friends separately in the comments. No duplicates!Deadline for entries is Aug 9th @ 8pm. The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via DM. Open to all Canadian residents. 🇨🇦The giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.#PanasonicCanada #PanasonicKitchenGOOD LUCK!](https://eatingwithkirby.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/760443955_18614823967021907_2593922243321710302_n.jpg)