CreatripTeam

On New Year's Day in Korea, families traditionally share a warm bowl of tteokguk, a soup made with sliced rice cakes. This symbolizes gaining a year in age. While the basic version uses plain white rice cakes, many families now enjoy making colorful versions with natural dyes from ingredients like black rice or pumpkin. Another popular variation is tteok mandu guk, which includes dumplings. This is especially common in regions like Seoul and Gyeonggi, and it symbolizes bringing prosperity as the dumpling resembles a traditional lucky pouch. For a creative touch, egg garnish is often used, which can be styled into floral shapes. Additionally, using seasonal ingredients like oysters creates a rich, nutritious soup. This reflects regional diversity in the dish, highlighting dishes such as oyster tteokguk, which combines the sea's bounty with rice cakes for added flavor and health benefits.