One of my many favorite food memories of living in Denver, was having a Korean dish called “Rabokki” for the first time. Typically a popular street food in Korea, it can be found in some awesome Korean restaurants throughout the Denver Metro area. Rabokki is a combo of “tteokbokki” (tubular rice cakes) and Ramen noodles. Rabokki features rice cakes, ramen noodles coated in a sweet and spicy sauce to give a burst of flavor in every bite. It is a very quick and satisfying meal. It is super delicious and very addictive!!
Ingredients:
8-10 ounces tube shaped rice cakes (frozen or fresh)
8-10 ounces ramen noodles
2-3 tablespoons sesame oil
1 small red onion sliced
1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms dried
1 carrot thinly sliced
1/2 cup broccoli diced
3-4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup zucchini diced
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon Korean chili flakes “gochugaru”
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons gochujang
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1-2 cups water or mushroom dashi
1 green onion sliced
Directions:
1. Marinate rice cakes in 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, a pinch of salt, and pepper.
2. Marinate mushrooms with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce, and a pinch of salt.
3. Make sauce in advance by mixing together 1 tablespoon gochugaru, 2 tablespoons gochujang, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat in a sauce pan.
5. Add onions and mushrooms and cook until they start to brown. Add garlic.
6. Add all remaining veggies and cook until they just start to get soft. Season with salt.
7. Add rice cakes and sauce. Stir together until all veggies and rice cakes are evenly coated with sauce. Add 1 cup of mushroom (or water). Cook on low heat until sauce becomes thick and rice cakes are soft.
8. While rice cakes are cooking, cook ramen noodles according to package instructions – al dente. Add rice noodles to rice cakes and incorporate into sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions.
Recently, I find myself omitting the rice cakes and just using the ramen noodles. I have done this so many times, it is now my preference. I also like to change things up and add shredded cabbage or cabbage leaves, hard boiled eggs sliced in half, and have spring rolls as a side. Spring Rolls and Rabokki – a wonderful combo!! I have also used chewy noodles (jjolmyeon) instead of ramen noodles. Sometimes I add the ramen seasoning powder in addition to the spicy gochujang sauce. I have even tried adding parmesan cheese!! Whatever you decide, try this soon!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT
Cheers, Drew Frederic