Chapssal-tteok facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chapssal-tteok

Alternative names	Chaltteok, glutinous rice cake
Type	Tteok
Place of origin	Korea
Associated national cuisine	Korean cuisine
Main ingredients	Glutinous rice
Similar dishes	Mochi

Chaltteok

Chapssal-tteok (pronounced "chap-sal-teok") is a yummy Korean treat. It's a type of tteok, which means "rice cake" in Korean. This chewy cake is made from a special kind of rice called glutinous rice, also known as "sticky rice." People sometimes call it chaltteok too.

What's in a Name?

The name Chapssal-tteok is made of two Korean words:

• Chapssal (찹쌀) means "glutinous rice" or "sticky rice."
• Tteok (떡) means "rice cake."

So, Chapssal-tteok literally means "sticky rice cake."

Another name for this treat is chaltteok (찰떡). The word chal means "glutinous" or "sticky." So, chaltteok also means "sticky rice cake."

While both names are often used for the same delicious rice cake, there's a small difference. Chapssal-tteok always means a cake made from sticky rice. But chaltteok can sometimes mean a sticky cake made from other grains, like sticky sorghum. However, most tteok is made from rice, so the names are usually interchangeable.

How It's Made and Different Kinds

Chapssal-tteok can be made in a few ways, but it always starts with sticky rice.

Making the Dough

First, the glutinous rice is soaked in water. Then, it's ground into a fine flour. This flour is steamed in a special Korean steamer called a siru. After steaming, the rice might be pounded to make it extra chewy. Sometimes, the rice is steamed first and then ground.

Toppings and Fillings

Once the rice cake is ready, it can be enjoyed in different ways:

• Coated: Some chapssal-tteok is coated with gomul. This is a tasty powder made from sesame seeds or beans. The rice cake might be steamed with the coating or boiled and then coated.
• Filled: Other types of chapssal-tteok are made into round shapes and filled with yummy ingredients. A popular filling is red bean paste, which is a sweet paste made from red beans.

Modern Twists

In South Korea today, you can find exciting new versions of chapssal-tteok:

• Ice Cream: Chapssal-tteok ice cream is a very popular dessert. It has a chewy rice cake outside and a cold, creamy ice cream filling.
• Fusion Dishes: This traditional rice cake is also used in modern "fusion" Korean dishes. These dishes mix Korean cooking with styles from other countries.

Similar Treats

Chapssal-tteok is quite similar to some types of Japanese mochi. Both are chewy rice cakes made from sticky rice. They can both be prepared by steaming and pounding the soaked glutinous rice until it's soft and stretchy.

See also

In Spanish: Chapssalttok para niños