January 29 marks the Lunar New Year, also known as Seollal in Korea. Unlike the solar calendar New Year, Koreans celebrate the beginning of the lunar year. This year, the Seollal holiday spans six days, from January 25 to January 30.
A Bowl of Tteokguk to Start the Year!
When it comes to Seollal, the dish that immediately comes to mind is tteokguk (rice cake soup). It is as iconic to Seollal as turkey is to Thanksgiving. The rice cakes in tteokguk(떡국) are made from glutinous rice and shaped into long, cylindrical forms called garaetteok(가래떡). In Korea, China, and Japan, such long shapes are symbolic of longevity. Eating tteokguk on New Year’s Day reflects the wish for good health and a long life. There’s even a traditional saying that you can only gain a year in age after finishing a bowl of tteokguk!
Tteokguk is typically made by slicing garaetteok into thin, oval-shaped pieces and adding them to a flavorful broth. Depending on the region, the broth might be made from beef bone (sagol) or anchovies. While the specific recipes vary by area, one commonality is the use of garnishes to enhance both the appearance and taste of the dish.
Although tteokguk is a traditional holiday dish, its simplicity and mild flavor make it a popular meal year-round. Many Korean restaurants include tteokguk on their menus, making it easily accessible. While the dish traditionally includes rice cakes and minced beef, many variations incorporate dumplings, which are also highly favored. In fact, some people eat tteokguk primarily for the dumplings, leading to a dish known as tteok-mandu-guk (rice cake and dumpling soup).
Dumplings: A Perfect Match
In the past, dumplings were a special dish made during festive family gatherings. Preparing dumplings required significant effort, including making the filling and wrapping it in dumpling skins. As such, it was a delicacy reserved for holidays when families could come together to prepare and enjoy it.
Today, frozen dumplings are widely available, making it easier to enjoy them anytime without the labor-intensive preparation. The combination of dumplings and tteokguk proved to be so delicious that it became a beloved tradition. Dumplings and rice cakes complement each other perfectly, to the point that it’s hard to imagine tteokguk without dumplings.
Seollal 2025: Let’s Enjoy Tteokguk Together!
The Korean Lunar New Year, Seollal, is just around the corner. Making Korean-style tteokguk is easier than you might think, even if you live abroad. Most Korean grocery stores carry essential ingredients like beef bone broth (gomtang), garaetteok, and dumplings.
To make tteokguk:
- Heat the beef bone broth.
- Soak the garaetteok in water for about 30 minutes before adding them to the broth.
- Add dumplings and cook until everything is heated through.
- Garnish with seaweed flakes (gim).
If seaweed flakes aren’t readily available, you can make them at home by crushing regular dried seaweed sheets.
We invite you to try this iconic dish of Seollal! The recipe is simple, the taste is fantastic, and it’s a wonderful way to experience the essence of Korean New Year. Happy cooking and happy Seollal!
