떡국 · Tteokguk

Tteokguk

떡국

What exactly is it?

Thin slices of cylinder rice cake soften in broth, rather than reducing in a sauce like tteokbokki. Egg strips, laver or meat top the bowl. Adding dumplings makes it tteok-mandu-guk.

Main ingredients

Sliced cylinder rice cakes, beef or anchovy stock, egg and laver garnish

Ordering and serving

Rice cakes provide the starch instead of a bowl of rice. They swell and stick as they sit in the broth, so eat promptly. In tteok-mandu-guk, the dumpling filling may contain meat or kimchi.

Origins and changes

The New Year custom is reflected in the saying that eating tteokguk adds a year to one’s age. Beef and anchovy or seafood broths vary by region. It is a festive dish that is also eaten at home and casual eateries throughout the year.

Sources checked

english.visitkorea.or.kr · 1

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Dish to compare

Mandu-guk · 만둣국

Tteokguk

떡국

Main ingredients: Sliced cylinder rice cakes, beef or anchovy stock, egg and laver garnish
Flavor and character: Thin slices of cylinder rice cake soften in broth, rather than reducing in a sauce like tteokbokki. Egg strips, laver or meat top the bowl. Adding dumplings makes it tteok-mandu-guk.
How to eat it: Rice cakes provide the starch instead of a bowl of rice. They swell and stick as they sit in the broth, so eat promptly. In tteok-mandu-guk, the dumpling filling may contain meat or kimchi.

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Mandu-guk

만둣국

Main ingredients: Dumplings, beef or anchovy broth, egg, laver, scallion
Flavor and character: Large dumplings cook in clear broth with garnishes such as egg and laver. Starch from the wrappers and juices from the filling enrich the soup. Kimchi-filled dumplings can be spicy even in a clear broth; adding rice cakes makes a different combination meal.
How to eat it: The filling can be hotter than the surface. Split a dumpling on your spoon and let it cool briefly. Choose between meat and kimchi fillings when ordering.

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