Tteok Sanjeok (Skewered Rice Cake and Vegetables)

Method6 steps · about 50 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Cut the two garaetteok pieces into four sections about 3 inches (7–8 cm) long, then quarter each lengthwise into sticks. Day-old rice cake is easier to cut. Boil the sticks in water until softened, drain and mix with the rice-cake marinade’s 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sugar and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Let stand about 30 minutes.

   Let seasoned rice cakes stand · 30 minUses 2 pieces garaetteok (sufficient for 4 7-centimeter long pieces) · 1 tablespoon soy sauce · 2 teaspoons sugar · 1 teaspoon sesame oil · Boiling water, enough to soften rice cakes

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Cut the beef into eight strips about 3 1/2 inches long, longer than the rice-cake sticks to allow for shrinkage. Mix with the separate beef marinade: 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 teaspoon rice wine, 1 teaspoon minced garlic and 1 pinch black pepper. Marinate about 30 minutes.

   Marinate beef · 30 minUses 4 ounces lean beef (tenderloin, sirloin, eye round) · 1 tablespoon soy sauce · 2 teaspoons sugar · 1 teaspoon sesame oil · 1 teaspoon rice wine · 1 teaspoon minced garlic · 1 pinch black pepper, for beef marinade

3. 3

   Step 3: Cut the mushrooms lengthwise into about 8-centimeter long strips. Blanch them in salted boiling water just to soften, about a minute. Drain.

   Blanch mushroom strips · 1 minUses 4 king trumpet mushrooms · Salt, for mushroom-blanching water · Boiling water, enough to blanch mushrooms

4. 4

   Step 4: Cut the green scallion (4) parts into eight pieces about 3 inches long. Cut a 3-inch section from each small carrot (2 small) and quarter lengthwise to make eight carrot sticks. Reserve unused scallion whites and carrot ends for another use.

   Uses 2 small carrots · 4 scallions

5. 5

   Step 5: Thread the prepared rice cakes, marinated beef, blanched mushrooms, carrot sticks and scallion greens onto eight skewers about 4 inches long. Distribute the prepared ingredients across them and reserve any trimming pieces for another use.

   Uses Softened seasoned rice-cake sticks · Marinated beef strips · Blanched mushroom strips · Carrot sticks and scallion greens

6. 6

   Step 6: Heat a large pan with a little cooking oil over medium-low heat. Pan-fry the assembled skewers for about 1–2 minutes per side, continuing until the beef and vegetables are cooked through and slightly caramelized. Add optional black pepper (to taste) to taste and garnish with the optional sesame seeds or chopped pine nuts.

   Pan-fry each side; continue until beef and vegetables cooked through · 2 minUses Assembled beef, rice-cake and vegetable skewers · Cooking oil, a little for pan-frying · Sesame seeds or chopped pine nuts, for garnish (optional) · Black pepper, to taste for vegetables (optional)