Rice Cakes in Red Pepper Sauce (Korean Tteokbokki)

It's impossible to resist the flavour-texture combo of this supremely satisfying Korean snack food - a riffable dish found as often in street food stalls as in home kitchens. In this version, we sear the chewy rice cakes until the outsides are crisp before tossing them in the spicy-sweet gochujang sauce. Bok choy is unorthodox, but its crisp-tender texture is a welcome addition. And while fish cakes are totally optional, we recommend taking a trip to the freezer section of your favourite Asian supermarket to explore all the different kinds.

3 medium to large dried anchovies
1 (2x2") piece dried kombu
¼ small + 2 large onions, sliced
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic,smashed
8 oz assorted frozen odeng (Korean fish cakes)
⅔ cup gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste)
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. gochugaru (coarse Korean red pepper powder)
¼ cup canola or vegetable oil
1 lb cylindrical rice cakes (about 2½" long), cut in half crosswise on a diagonal
1 medium head of bok choy, bulbs cut into ¼" pieces, leaves sliced into 1" pieces
2 scallions, thinly sliced on a diagonal, divided
3 large hard-boiled eggs, halved lengthwise
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds, crushed

Bring anchovies, kombu, ¼ small sliced onion, 2 smashed cloves garlic, and 3½ cups water to a boil in a small pot. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer at least 15 minutes and up to 45 minutes (the longer the stock simmers, the more flavour it will have).

Strain anchovy stock through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass measuring cup; discard solids. Return stock to pot and heat over medium. Add fish cakes and simmer until just heated through, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix gochujang, soy sauce, and gochugaru in a small bowl.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until hot. Add rice cakes and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 sliced onions and 6 sliced cloves garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add gochujang mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until combined and fragrant, about 1 minute more.

Add 2½ cups anchovy stock along with fish cakes to rice cake mixture and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and rice cakes are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add bok choy and half of scallions and toss until well combined, adding more anchovy stock by the Tbsp. to thin if needed. Cook, tossing occasionally, until bok choy is wilted, about 2 minutes.

Transfer tteokbokki to a platter. Top with eggs, sesame seeds, and remaining scallions.

Makes 6 servings.