Gochujang Ribs
with Rice Cakes
I know it’s not my place. And I know this will alienate some. But I must speak out…The best carb in the world is not pasta. Nor bread. Nor—heavens, dare I say it?!—white potatoes. No, friends. Thanks to its bouncy, chewy texture and its unbelievable flavor absorption, the supreme starch (that you’ve probably never heard of) is: Korean rice cakes! Also known as tteok. And before you troll us on social media, I beg of you, try this recipe. The rice cakes pair beautifully with the seductively sweet and spicy Gochujang sauce, soaking up all that juice to become toe-curling bursts of flavor with every bite. The Baby Ribs, bubbling away beside them, soften into a delicate meat cloud. Take a bite, surrender to its tenderness, and it will carry you to a neon wonderland where the people are ridiculously well-dressed and K-Pop hits float on the breeze. And if that sounds too incredible to be quick and easy, rest assured, the Gochujang hot tub works its magic in just 20 minutes. What are you waiting for?
Ingredients

2 packs of Juicy Marbles Baby Ribs
2 tbsp neutral oil 
2 green onions
3 cloves of garlic
2 cm ginger
½ tsp gochugaru (korean chili flakes)
1 tbsp brown sugar 
2-3 tbsp gochujang, depending on how spicy you want it (korean fermented chili paste) 
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp sesame oil
600 ml vegetable stock
500 g rice cakes 
1 tbsp cornstarch 
2 tbsp water 
Sesame seeds for garnish 
Finely sliced green onion for garnish 

20-25 MIN / SERVES 3-4
preparation

1. Prepare the vegetables: finely slice a green onion, peel and grate 3 garlic cloves, and grate some ginger.
2. In a jug, mix together 2–3 tbsp of gochujang, 3 tbsp of soy sauce, 3 tbsp of rice vinegar, 2 tbsp of sesame oil, 600 ml of vegetable stock, the sliced green onion, grated garlic, and grated ginger.
3. Chop the Baby Ribs into 3–4 pieces and season with salt and pepper.
4. Heat 2 tbsp of neutral oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat. Add the Baby Ribs and cook on both sides until nicely browned, about 7–8 minutes.
5. Cover the ribs with the liquid mixture, close the pan with a lid, and cook for 20 minutes.
6. After 20 minutes, uncover the pan and add the rice cakes. Nestle them into the braising liquid and cook for 5–6 minutes, until softened. Add more water or vegetable stock if necessary.
7. Make a slurry by mixing 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 2 tbsp of water. Pour it into the braising liquid and mix well. Let it cook for another minute, until thickened. You can skip this step if you prefer a soupier consistency.
8. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and finely sliced spring onions.
9. Serve with smashed cucumber salad, kimchi, or extra rice, if desired.