My Ddokbokki (떡볶이) Recipe

As I said before, I thought I cooked better than the ddokbokki at H-Mart.  Well tonight I went to a friend's house to do a little jamming and we usually cook weird awesome food so I contributed some of my ddokbokki to the meal.  We started with the ddokbokki, bread and avocado before we had spaghetti with pesto.  Delicious.  No one in my friend's family had tried Korean food and they seem to enjoy spicy so I thought this was a good idea.  It was about a 100 degrees today so it wasn't the best choice because the ddokbokki made me sweat a little more but them seemed to enjoy it.

Anyway here it is in its poor photo goodness.

If anyone is adventurous and wants to try my recipe:

1 Bag of Rice cakes (ddok)
2 cups of water

half an onion diced (usually use green onions but this is all I had)

3 cloves of garlic smashed

a few fish cakes (didn't have any this time to put in)

Sauce:
3 tablespoons of red pepper paste (gochujang)
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of ketchup
1 teaspoon of Soy Sauce
1 teaspoon of sesame oil


Directions:
Put some olive oil or sesame oil in a medium pan on medium heat.  While the pan heats up combine and mix all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.  If you can't handle too spicy then lower the amount of red pepper paste and add some more of the honey and ketchup.  Put the sauce to the side.  Throw on the garlic and onions and let them get golden brown.  Throw in the bag of rice cakes and two cups of water, let sit for 3-5 minutes or until the rice cakes start to get slightly squishy.  Strain the water from the rice cake, onions and garlic.  Put the pan back on the burner with the rice cakes/onions/garlic and add the sauce mixture.  Add a little water to made it somewhat soupy.  Let the sauce cook for 1 minute and serve.

Serves about 6-8 people.

Korean food at H-mart

I promised a few days ago pictures of the Korean food that I ate with Jee at H-Mart and have finally got them from my phone to the computer.  That's one excuse but mainly my rationalization is that I want to blog something once a day and gives me something to blog about.

This is the ddokbokki (red stuff) and twigim (lighter colored fried stuff) we got.  Both of these foods, as you see in the video below, are common street foods in Korea.  Many people eat street food as a snack or while drinking because they serve soju in the same street tents.
How did I like it?
This was probably the worst ddokbokki I've ever tasted.  It was cold and not that spicy and to top it off it was $9.  Jee said it goes for around $3 or less in Korea.  Ajumma (older Korean lady) I did not feel the love in this dish!  I don't wanna brag but I make ddokbokki from scratch and it tastes much better than this.
It was actually the first time I've tried twigim (rice rolled in seaweed battered and fried) but it was actually really good.
I also order sundae (blood sausage not pictured) and that was probably the best I've had so far in the states.  It was fresh and piping hot!!  Yum!
I give this food stall place a 6 outta 10 for the price and shoddy ddokbokki.

Check this video out on pochang macha (Korean street tents that sell this food):




Can't wait to try the real deal in Korea!

PS-
I know this has nothing to do with Korea but I find it funny.  I went with the parents and brother to a restaurant called Hollywood in Auburn and this is what my dad ordered.

Yes, I think it was 10"x12" of chicken fried and covered with cheese.  Dad says it will last him for the week.  Wonder if anyone has eaten that in one sitting?