Spicy Cheese Tteokbokki Recipe: Creamy Korean Rice Cake Stir-Fry

Tteokbokki and cheese combine in this flavorful Korean dish. Whether served as a main course or a side, cheese tteokbokki is comforting, satisfying, and easy to make at home.

If you follow this blog, you may have seen my earlier spicy tteokbokki recipe. This version uses a few updated ingredients and slightly adjusted measurements to improve the balance of heat and sauce. Try both and see which you prefer.

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki are cylindrical stir-fried rice cakes that come fresh, refrigerated, or frozen. Fresh rice cakes give the best chewy texture. Refrigerated packages are a good second choice. Frozen rice cakes can be convenient but sometimes crack and lose chewiness, so thaw carefully before using when possible.

Cheese

Cheese is a popular addition to many modern Korean street foods. In neighborhoods with a young crowd, like Hongdae, you’ll often find traditional snacks topped with melted cheese. For this recipe I used shredded mozzarella for its stretch and mild flavor, but you can blend in cheddar or another melting cheese to add depth and tang.

Can I make this vegan?

Yes. To make a vegan version, substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth and use vegan cheese or omit the cheese. The spicy-sweet tteokbokki sauce remains the same and still yields a delicious result.

How to store leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce, cover until warmed and soft, then add cheese if desired.

More Korean recipes you’ll love!

  • Korean cheese potato pancakes
  • Korean corn cheese
  • Mini Korean corn dogs
  • Korean cafe-style strawberry milk

Watch the video tutorial below!

Cheese Tteokbokki


4.7 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Jasmine and Tea
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
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Description

Tteokbokki and cheese combine in a savory, slightly spicy sauce for a crowd-pleasing Korean street-food dish. This recipe balances the heat with a touch of sweetness and a rich, cheesy finish.


Ingredients


Scale

  • 1.5 cups chicken broth (350 ml)
  • 2 tbsp gochujang
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes)
  • 2 cups rice cakes (360 g)
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs
  • 2 sheets fish cake (80 g)
  • 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 4 stalks green onion, trimmed and sliced
  • shredded mozzarella cheese (amount to taste)

Instructions

  1. Cut fish cake sheets into triangles if desired. Rinse rice cakes under cool water to separate and remove any stickiness.
  2. In a pan over medium-high heat, combine chicken broth, gochujang, soy sauce, sugar, and gochugaru. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the rice cakes.
  3. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, increasing frequency as the sauce reduces. Cook about 4 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the rice cakes are chewy and tender. Remove from heat and add boiled eggs, fish cakes, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and green onions.
  4. Ensure there is enough sauce left in the pan; add a splash more broth if necessary. The sauce will continue to thicken, and too little sauce can cause the tteokbokki to dry out when melting the cheese.
  5. Sprinkle a thin layer of shredded cheese over the top, cover the pan, and return to very low heat until the cheese melts. Remove from heat and serve directly from the pan.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes

Keywords: cheese tteokbokki, korean food, street food

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