For each of us, Lunar New Year means something special. If you're superstitious, you might cut a lock of hair, trim your nails, and clean out your home in preparation for the coming year. Envisioning growth, opportunity, and good health, you ready yourself for new successes and milestones.
This year, add a Korean culinary tradition to your festivities with Tteokguk (떡국)—or rice cake soup. Many Korean families, including Jennie's, prepare this dish for Lunar New Year, consisting of thinly sliced rice cakes, savory beef, eggs, and seaweed.
The round and smooth rice cakes are believed to symbolize the turning of a new year and the cyclical nature of life. The soup’s clear broth signifies purity and cleanliness, aligning with the cultural desire for a fresh start in the new year. There is also a unique custom associated with Tteokguk wherein Koreans believe that consuming this dish adds one year to a person's age. As such, Tteokguk becomes a culinary representation of personal growth and the passage of time.
Ingredients:
Broth:
- 8 cups of beef or anchovy broth (homemade or packaged)
- 1 onion, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 piece of dried kelp
- 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (shiitake or white)
For the Rice Cake and Toppings:
- 6 cups of thinly sliced Korean rice cakes
- 1 cup of shredded cooked beef
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- Salt and pepper
Garnishes:
- Sesame oil
- Roasted seaweed (gim), sliced into thin strips
- Fried egg strips
Step by step:
- Soak rice cakes in water if they're hard—drain before using.
- If making homemade broth, boil beef or anchovies with water; simmer for 30-40 minutes, then strain.
- Mix shredded cooked beef with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper; set aside.
- Bring the broth to a boil and add sliced rice cakes, cooking until soft (8-10 minutes).
- Add seasoned beef to the broth, simmering for an additional 5-7 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with soy sauce, salt, or pepper if needed.
- Sprinkle chopped green onions and dried seaweed and fried egg strips on top.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls, serve with a side of kimchi, and enjoy your homemade Tteokguk!
Connect to your past while creating new traditions—to be passed down for generations.
Then, Now, Always.
