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Tteokgalbi with rice

Tteokgalbi is a Korean patty made from ground beef and pork, marinated in sweet soy sauce and pan grilled, served with rice. For 4 people, it takes 45 minutes and is rated easy, at €3.20 per serving. The key to success is kneading the meat until it turns sticky, which holds the patties together while they cook.

Tonight, little Korean beef and pork patties, marinated in sweet soy sauce and grilled, smelling like a small celebration.

Tteokgalbi with rice
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.20
Calories per person
590 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Tteokgalbi are plump little Korean patties with a glossy, caramelized edge that smells like sugar and soy sauce the moment they hit the pan. The beef and pork blend keeps the inside tender while the outside turns golden and slightly sticky. Garlic, scallion and sesame oil season the meat without overpowering it, and toasted sesame seeds add a small crunch at the end.

Kids tend to like this dish because it looks like a fancier hamburger patty, and it's a nice change from the usual weeknight routine without requiring any tricky technique. You can make it on a weeknight if the meat gets even a short marinade while you prep everything else, or mix it the night before so it marinates longer ahead of a weekend dinner. It's also an easy, friendly way to introduce the whole family to Korean cooking.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Ground beef 400 g
  • Ground pork 300 g

Pantry

  • Soy sauceoften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Sesame oiloften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Sesame seedsoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Oiloften in the pantry 1 tbsp

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Scallions 4
  • Carrots 2

Allergens Soy, Sesame, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Mix the beef, pork, soy sauce, sugar, pressed garlic, half the scallions, sesame oil and pepper, then knead well. 10 min

    A fattier mix, around 15 to 20 percent fat, makes juicier patties.

  2. Let the meat marinate in the fridge. 20 min

    A few hours in the fridge makes it even better.

  3. Shape 8 oval patties about 1.5 cm thick with wet hands.

    Press a small dimple in the center of each one, it keeps the thickness even as they cook.

  4. Cook the patties in an oiled skillet over medium heat until glazed and golden. 10 min

    Keep the heat medium, the sweet soy sauce burns fast over high heat.

  5. Cook the rice and serve with the patties, cooked carrots, sliced scallions, and sesame seeds on top. 12 min

    Toast them dry for 1 minute in a pan to wake up their flavor.

Our tips to get it right

  • Press the garlic and finely chop the scallions so they blend evenly into the meat without leaving big chunks.
  • Wet your hands well before shaping the patties, the marinated meat is quite sticky otherwise.
  • Let the cooked patties rest off the heat for a minute before serving, they firm up a little more and hold together better when cut.

The variations

  • Swap the pork for more ground beef if you prefer a bolder flavor, the texture stays close to the original.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the meat with finely chopped mushrooms and mashed kidney beans, bound with a little cornstarch.
  • For kids, shape smaller, thicker patties like mini burgers, and cook them a bit longer over low heat.

What to serve it with

  • Steamed white rice
  • Cooked carrots and scallions
  • Crunchy cabbage slaw

Storage

Cooked patties keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. They freeze well either raw or cooked, for up to 2 months. Reheat them in a pan over low heat so the glaze doesn't burn.

Questions about this dish

Can you prep the meat mixture ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix and marinate the meat up to a day ahead in the fridge. It actually tastes better after a few hours of resting.

Why do you need to knead the meat for a while?

Kneading develops the proteins in the meat, which makes it sticky. That's what helps the patties hold together while cooking instead of falling apart.

Can you bake the patties instead of pan frying them?

Yes, bake them at 200 degrees Celsius for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. A skillet still gives a shinier, more glazed surface though.

What kind of rice goes best with tteokgalbi?

A classic short or medium grain white rice works well, it doesn't need to be a specific Korean brand. It just helps if the rice stays a bit sticky to soak up the sauce from the meat.

How long does it take to make tteokgalbi with rice?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in tteokgalbi with rice?

About 590 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does tteokgalbi with rice cost?

About €3.20 per serving, or €12.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains soy, sesame, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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