A Bowl of Good Fortune: Regional Tteokguk Traditions Across Korea
Lunar New Year, or Seollal, is one of Korea’s most important holidays, a time for family gatherings, ancestral rituals called jesa, and starting fresh. At the heart of this celebration is tteokguk (떡국), a savory rice cake soup symbolizing purity, renewal, and the passage into the new year.
Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, the tradition of eating tteokguk is still intact and as the Lunar New approaches, I thought I’d share some of the regional Korean rice cake soup varieties that you may not have seen before.
Each region of the country adds its own twist to the beloved dish and if you’re like me and my family, you’ll eat the same variety each year, because it’s what your mom (or in my case mother-in-law) makes and you’ll never realize there are so many other kinds to try!
Find out how many different kinds Korean rice cake soup exist:
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What is Tteokguk
Tteokguk (떡국) is a Korean soup made with rice cakes and is traditionally eaten on the Lunar New Year to bring good luck in the coming year and grant one more year of age.
These days, when people think of tteokguk, they usually picture it with beef, but way back, the soup made with pheasant meat was considered the best. When pheasant became difficult to obtain, chicken tteokguk became more common.
These days, the more standard bowl of tteokguk is made with beef broth, strips of yellow egg, seaweed, green onions, and of course the rice cakes. There are, however, some regional specialties and variations that I myself adore and think you will too.
Different Kind of Tteokguk To Taste In Korea
1. Joraengi Tteokguk (조랭이 떡국)
A nod to the culinary traditions of the historic Kaesong region, this version features joraengi tteok (조랭이떡), twisted, coin-shaped rice cakes that symbolize wealth and prosperity. This ddeok adds a chewier texture to the soup that is quite fun.
2. Hijiki Seaweed Tteokguk (톳떡국)
As new residents of Jeju Island, I searched up the unique varieties here and this one looks delectable. Made with hijiki seaweed, the tteok is rich in fiber and contains a large amount of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, iron, calcium, iodine, and magnesium. This tteok definitely makes a statement with the different color and adds a whole other meaning to your wishes for the new year.
3. Chicken Tteokguk (닭장떡국)
In the Jeolla provinces, famous for their bold and hearty flavors, chicken tteokguk is enjoyed for the holidays. Made with rich chicken stock and fresh farm ingredients, this version is thicker and more nourishing than the classic beef-based tteokguk.
4. Saeng Tteokguk (생떡국)
Chungcheong Province is known for its unaged, fresh rice cakes called saeng tteok (생떡). Unlike the firmer garaetteok used in most versions, saeng tteok creates a softer, more delicate texture in the soup. This variety has a more clean, clear broth to let the freshness of the rice cakes shine.
5. Oyster Tteokguk (굴떡국)
Popular in Tongyeong, the center of oyster production in Korea, I first enjoyed this version at my mother-in-law’s house in Busan. This is my favorite version of the soup as the oysters just add something a bit salty and creamy to the dish.
I actually thought this was a fairly standard at-home version until I posted about it and so many people messaged saying they’d never tried an oyster version. It’s good! We eat this regularly in the winter months when oysters are at their best.
6. Maesangi Oyster Tteokguk (매생이 굴떡국)
Made with clams and oysters, when I was looking up information about oyster tteokguk, I came upon this version which uses garatteok, but also uses maesangi (매생이), a delicious and delicate seaweed that I just enjoyed for the first time a few weeks ago. The maesangi addition makes this tteokguk stand out with a vibrant green color.
Also called Sun Rice Cake Soup (매생이) because it’s said to mean wishing the sun for good health and longevity, it’s definitely a version to look out for.
Who knew there were so many different kinds of rice cake soup in Korea. If you’re traveling this holiday season, see where you can get a local bite to celebrate. You’ll be happy you did.
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