Ingredients (4 servings)

Marinated Beef
12-16 oz beef of choice*, thinly sliced
2 tbsp tamari
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tsp mirin
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
1/4 tsp ginger powder

Veggies
1/2 white onion, cut into wide slices
1/2 head broccoli, cut into long pieces
1/2 carrot, cut into matchsticks
1/3 red pepper, cut into strips
1/3 green pepper, cut into strips
1 cup shiitake mushrooms (or mushrooms of choice), stems removed and sliced
4 scallions, cut into 4cm long pieces then halved lengthwise

Royal Court Sauce (double if you prefer a saucy dish)
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp tamari
1 tbsp raw cane sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed

500g tteokbokki (tubular-type rice cakes), boiled for 1 minute [if not fresh]

roasted sesame seeds (for topping)

Method

1. Mix sliced beef with marinade ingredients (tamari, sesame oil, mirin, ginger powder, and black pepper). Marinate in the fridge at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
2. Heat a wok or a large pan over medium-high heat.
3. Add meat to pan. Cook for ~1 minute, where meat about half browned and half still pink.
4. Add onions to pan. Stir occasionally, until meat has lost its pink colour.
5. Remove meat and onions from pan and set aside.
6. Add veggies to pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally to pick up any loose fond from the pan.
7. Add royal court sauce (sesame oil, tamari, sugar, and garlic). Stir occasionally until veggies are cooked, but still have a bite in texture (tender crisp).
8. Add meat and onions back into pan, along with rice cakes. Mix to coat everything in sauce. Cook to thicken sauce and finish cooking through the rice cakes.
9. Remove from pan and top with roasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with preferred side dishes.

Notes:

1. *You can use pre-sliced beef from your local store, hot-pot beef, or slice your own from whatever cut you have on hand. The more marbled the cut, the more tender and luxurious the mouthfeel will be. I like to use sirloin steak and freeze it to make it easier to slice thin.
2. Rice cakes tend to dry out in the fridge if you have leftovers. To reheat, add a splash of water to your container, and microwave slightly covered (or with a vented cover) until heated through.