Army-Style Tteokbokki Hot Pot

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A dynamic and comforting fusion hot pot featuring handmade rice cakes, fish cakes, and instant noodles, crowned with a crispy golden-brown breaded chicken cutlet.

↓ The ingredients ↓ The steps

Drawing inspiration from Korean army stew culture, this hearty hot pot combines artisanal handmade rice cakes with a rich, savory broth and spicy stir-fried sauce. Topped with a sizzling chicken cutlet and vibrant garnishes, it offers a deeply satisfying blend of textures and bold flavors that keep every bite exciting.

A close-up of a prepared Army-style Tteokbokki hot pot, featuring a golden fried chicken cutlet resting on noodles, garnished with herbs, and surrounded by colorful ingredients in a metallic pan.
A close-up of a prepared Army-style Tteokbokki hot pot, featuring a golden fried chicken cutlet resting on noodles, garnished with herbs, and surrounded by colorful ingredients in a metallic pan.
Prep25 mins
Cook20 mins
Total45 mins
Yield2-3 servings
DifficultyMedium
Calories650 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1Wash the Rice Cakes Thoroughly
    Rice cakes being thoroughly washed in a metal bowl beneath a running tap.

    Place the handmade rice cakes into a large metal bowl and wash them thoroughly under continuous running water to completely remove surface starch.

    Tip: Ensure the water flows continuously to wash away all impurities.
  2. 2Drain the Rice Cakes
    Handmade rice cakes draining in a stainless steel colander under running water.

    Transfer the thoroughly cleaned handmade rice cakes into a metal colander and let them drain completely to remove excess water before assembly.

    Tip: Ensure all excess water is removed so it doesnt dilute the hot pot broth.
  3. 3Chop the Cabbage
    A head of cabbage being cut into small pieces on a red board.

    Take a head of cabbage and chop it into small pieces on a cutting board to prepare the hot pot basecite: 1.

    Tip: Cut evenly so the cabbage creates a uniform bed at the bottom of the pans.
  4. 4Arrange Hot Pot Pans
    Multiple empty and prepared round metal hot pot pans on a metal counter.

    Set out multiple round metal hot pot pans and line the bottom of each pan evenly with the chopped cabbagecite: 1.

    Tip: Ensure the bottom is fully covered to prevent burning during heating.
  5. 5Add Rice Cakes to Pans
    Hands wearing gloves placing raw handmade rice cakes onto the cabbage layer.

    Arrange about 15 pieces of the drained handmade rice cakes directly on top of the prepared cabbage bed in each hot pot pan.

    Tip: Distribute the rice cakes evenly across each pan for balanced cooking.
  6. 6Layer Fish Cakes
    Gloved hands holding and adding thin rectangular slices of fish cake.

    Take thin slices of fish cake and arrange them on top of the rice cakes in the hot pot panscite: 1.

    Tip: Layer them neatly to absorb the flavors as the broth cooks down.
  7. 7Add the Pre-Cooled Broth Base
    A metal ladle scooping clear brown broth from a large stockpot.

    Scoop pre-cooled liquid broth using a metal ladle and pour it evenly into each prepared hot pot pan to control the cooking temperature.

    Tip: Using a pre-cooled broth helps control the cooking temperature and flavor balance.
  8. 8Mix in the Spicy Sauce
    Dark red spicy sauce being mixed and pulled inside a container with broth.

    Add a spoonful of the secret stir-fried rice cake sauce into the broth base and mix it thoroughly until well incorporated.

    Tip: The special sauce provides the signature rich and spicy flavor profile for the dish.
  9. 9Top with Bean Curd and Green Onions
    An assembled hot pot filled with cabbage, rice cakes, fish cakes, and topped with fried bean curd and green onions.

    Arrange fried bean curd slices and freshly chopped green onion segments neatly on top of the assembled hot pot ingredients.

    Tip: Add the green onions toward the top so they retain a fresh texture and vibrant color as it heats.
  10. 10Deep-Fry Chicken Cutlets
    A breaded chicken cutlet frying in a large wok filled with bubbling cooking oil.

    Place breaded chicken cutlets into a large wok filled with hot oil and fry them until they sizzle and achieve a crispy golden texture.

    Tip: Maintain a steady medium-high oil temperature to ensure the coating turns golden without burning.
  11. 11Plate the Crispy Chicken Cutlet
    A knife cutting through a golden-fried breaded chicken cutlet on a bright red cutting board.

    Once the fried chicken cutlets reach a golden brown color, slice them appropriately and place them whole on top of the instant noodles in the hot pot pans.

    Tip: Placing the cutlet right over the noodles lets the crispy crust absorb some of the savory broth flavors.
  12. 12Add Fresh Herbs
    A gloved hand sprinkling chopped green parsley over a golden-brown breaded chicken cutlet placed on top of dry instant noodles.

    Take freshly chopped parsley and gently sprinkle it over the top of the golden fried chicken cutlet resting on the instant noodles.

    Tip: Add the herbs just before serving to maintain their vibrant color and fresh aroma.
  13. 13Pour Secret Spicy Sauce
    A metal ladle pouring a dark red, spiced sauce onto a bed of sliced cabbage, white rice cakes, and grilled meat in a hot pot pan.

    Using a metal ladle, pour the thick, rich secret spicy sauce directly over the arranged cabbage, rice cakes, and sliced grilled meat inside the hot pot pan.

    Tip: Ensure the sauce is distributed evenly over the ingredients so every bite absorbs the rich flavor.
  14. 14Slice Fresh Onions
    Close-up of freshly cut white onion wedges resting against a red background.

    Carefully slice fresh white onions into clean, uniform wedges to be used as a garnish and flavor base for the second variety of Army hot pot.

    Tip: Cut the onions smoothly to ensure they release their natural sweetness evenly during cooking.
  15. 15Prepare Hot Pot Ingredients
    An assortment of raw hot pot ingredients including two sausages, quail eggs, sliced potatoes, bean curd strips, and napa cabbage.

    Gather and arrange the additional hot pot toppings, including plump sausages, peeled quail eggs, sliced potatoes, and pressed bean curd strips, alongside fresh cabbage leaves.

    Tip: Keep the ingredients neatly organized on your prep station for quick assembly into the hot pot pan.
  16. 16Pour Fresh Milk Base
    Fresh white milk being poured from a pitcher into a hot pot pan filled with various ingredients, spicy sauce, and sliced onions.

    Pour fresh milk directly into the hot pot pan over the arrangement of meat, sausages, rice cakes, onions, and spicy sauce instead of traditional broth.

    Tip: Using fresh milk creates a rich, creamy broth variation that balances out the spicy elements.
  17. 17Add Cheese Layer
    A slice of yellow cheese placed on top of folded cooked Italian noodles on a red surface.

    Place a square slice of yellow cheese directly onto the portion of cooked Italian noodles to melt into the hot dish.

    Tip: The residual heat from the noodles will quickly melt the cheese into a rich, creamy coating.
  18. 18Garnish with fresh broccoli
    A close-up shot of a hand placing a piece of fresh broccoli in the center of an army hot pot pan.

    Place a vibrant piece of fresh broccoli right in the center of the pan to add texture, color, and freshness to the simmering dish.

    Tip: Add the broccoli toward the end so it stays crisp-tender and retains its bright green color.

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator
1-2 days
Store leftover ingredients and broth in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Noodles and fried cutlets are best consumed fresh and should be kept separate if possible.
Reheating
5-10 min
Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until simmering thoroughly. Add a splash of broth or water if the liquid has reduced too much.

Burn It Off

Running
~65 minutes at a moderate pace (~9 km/h).
Cycling
~1 hour 45 minutes of leisurely cycling (~15 km/h).
Brisk Walking
~2 hours 10 minutes at a steady pace (~5 km/h).

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, machine-made rice cakes work fine, though handmade rice cakes offer a softer, more traditional texture that absorbs the spicy broth exceptionally well.
Add the instant noodles and crispy chicken cutlet towards the latter half of cooking or right before serving so they retain their ideal texture.
Definitely. You can easily control the heat by adjusting the amount of secret stir-fried rice cake sauce added to the broth base.
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