Colorful Rice Cake (Tteok)
6 servings
60 minutes
Colorful rice cake (Tteok) is a symbol of joy and celebration in Korean cuisine. This steamed dessert consists of layers of rice flour colored with natural dyes and has a tender, slightly chewy texture. Each strip has its own flavor: chocolate depth, freshness of greens, tartness of lemon, and lightness of vanilla. It is made using a traditional recipe passed down through generations and often decorates festive tables. Adorned with nuts and dried fruits, it represents not only an exquisite dessert but also an aesthetic pleasure. This cake pairs perfectly with traditional Korean tea and is a favorite treat during New Year and family celebrations.
1
This pie variant is steamed, so a special device is needed – a steamer or a steamer pot. If using a pot, pour 10 tablespoons of water into the bottom part. The upper part of the steamer should be lined with a large piece of clean cotton fabric (to remove the finished pie with the fabric). A detachable baking form is also needed: set aside the bottom part as it won't be used, secure the sides with a clasp and grease the inside with vegetable oil. Place it on the fabric in the steamer – this will be our pie form.
2
Sift all the rice flour into a large bowl before mixing.
3
First, prepare the dough for the first, bottom layer – chocolate: in a separate bowl mix 1 tbsp of rice flour, a pinch of salt, 2 tbsp of sugar, 1 tbsp of cocoa and 4 tsp of water. Rub the mixture by hand into a uniform crumb and sift again – you can do it directly into the mold – level the layer.
- Rice flour: 1 kg
- Salt: to taste
- Sugar: 10 tablespoons
- Cocoa powder: 1 tablespoon
- Pink food coloring: to taste
4
For the second layer – green – take 1.5 tbsp of rice flour, a pinch of salt, and 2 tbsp of sugar. In a separate bowl, pour 4 tsp of water and add a drop of green food coloring. Pour the colored water into the flour mixture and crumble it with your hands. Also, sift the mixture over the brown layer and level it.
- Rice flour: 1 kg
- Salt: to taste
- Sugar: 10 tablespoons
- Green food coloring: to taste
- Pink food coloring: to taste
5
Similarly, make the 3rd and 4th layers using yellow and pink dyes. Add 1 tsp of water and the juice of half a lemon to the yellow layer.
- Yellow food coloring: to taste
- Pink food coloring: to taste
- Lemon: 1 piece
6
Finally, make the top 5 layer and leave it white.
7
Decorate the top of the pie with nuts and dried fruits. Cook the pie in a steamer for 30 minutes (if cooking in a pot, keep the pie for another 5 minutes on low heat).
- Dried fruits: to taste
- Nuts: to taste
8
Remove the pie by holding the cloth, carefully take off the edge.