Korean Cooking from the Eastern Bloc: Tteokguk

TTEOKGUK (Rice cake soup)


 My name is Timea Adam, I’m from Targu-Mures, Roumania and I was born on 1989. Although I’m licensed in International Relations and European Studies I have a passion for Korean Cuisine. My passion for Korean Cuisine started in October, last year, when I saw on TV a Korean drama (for the first time in my life), I think the name of the drama was ‘Boys over flowers’ (I hope that is right). Well, it was the first time when I was jealous because a man was skinny than me. (^_^).  Then I started to search on the internet on everything about Korea, especially about Korean cuisine. In this movie, the actors were eating a lot of Ramyeon and Kimchi, so I started to search for information about this two dishes.

I found was able to find many food recipes that looked tasty and healthy. It was then I fell in love with the Korean cuisine. It has inspired me to write a book with my favorites Korean food recipes.

Many people ask me why I’m so passionate about Korean cuisine and why I am not into Italian or French cuisine. I always answer, "because it is a special cuisine, new (for me and other Europeans), tasty and more healthy."

I also like Italian, French, Roumanian and others cuisines, but I want something new. Something that makes me feel happy when I eat. And that is why I choseKorean cuisine. Since November I’ve started to eat more beef and rice, and I’m grateful for Korean food.

I’m so excited because Dan invited me to contribute on his blog and so happy because I can share with you some of my favorite food recipes, I hope to have a good feedback from you. Thank you, Dan! For more food recipes you can check my blog, there I will post often - http://timeaadam.blogspot.com. Also, I will start posting pictures of my own food soon!

P.S.: Yesterday I found out who’s the man I was jealous because of his weight, his name is Kim Hyun Joong. I don’t have information about him, I just saw some pictures with him but I’m still jealous because is so skinny. (^_^). By the way, does this man eat or he does he just drink tea and water? I’m kidding… or not… I am very curious what he eats! (^_^) I wish you all a Happy New Year!!!

I want to share with you a very well known recipe by all the Koreans, it’s a traditional must-eat New Year’s dish in Korea called Tteokguk or Rice cake soup.


TTEOKGUK (Rice cake soup)

Time: 2 hours

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

-       600 g rice cake

-       500 g beef brisket

-       10 cups water

-       2 tsp clear soy sauce

-       2 green onions

-       Garlic

-       Salt

-       Black pepper

-       Shred red pepper

-       2 eggs

Directions:

First of all you need to clean the blood of beef with cotton cloths. Then you need to put the beef with water in the pot, and to heat it up for approximately 10 minutes on high heat. When it starts to boil, heat to medium and simmer it for more 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, you need to add the green onion and the garlic, and let it simmer for another 30 minutes. Shred the rice cake on diagonally and the green onion too. Pan-fry eggs for yellow garnish and cut into diaper shape. When the broth is ready, you’ll need to through cotton cloths for filter the broth. Pour the broth in a clean pot and heat it up for another 5 minutes, on high heat. When it starts to boil, add the sliced rice cake and boil it for approximately 5 minutes. When the rice cake float on the surface, season with salt,  black pepper, clear soy sauce, garlic and green onion, and bring it to a boil once more. Pour the soup in a bowl and garnish with beef, egg and shred red pepper.

Recipe courtesy of KTO

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