A popular Korean street food and iconic drinking snack (anju) featuring chewy blood sausage (sundae), rice cakes, crisp cabbage, and onion stir-fried in a spicy gochujang sauce. Finished with perilla leaves and roasted wild sesame powder to eliminate any gamey odor and add a rich, nutty flavor.
⏱️ Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 15 mins | 🍳 Easy | 🌶️ Spicy & Nutty | 🍻 Popular Anju
Ingredients (2-3 servings)
- Main Ingredients: 300g Korean blood sausage (sundae, thick-sliced), 100g cylinder rice cakes (garae-tteok or tteokbokki-tteok), 10–12 fresh perilla leaves (kkaet-nip)
- Vegetables: 1/4 head green cabbage, 1/2 onion, 1/2 stalk green onion, 1 green chili pepper, 1 red chili pepper
- Spicy Sauce Base: 2 tbsp gochujang (chili paste), 2 tbsp gochugaru (chili flakes), 1.5 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp rice syrup (mulyeot), 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp mirin (cooking wine), 3–4 tbsp water or broth
- Finishing Touches: 2 tbsp wild sesame powder (deul-kkaetgaru), 2 tbsp cooking oil, 1 tbsp sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds
Allergy Information
- Contains: Pork (Blood sausage casing & filling), Soy (Gochujang, Soy sauce), Wheat (Blood sausage, Gochujang, Soy sauce), Sesame
Equipment
- Frying Pan or Large Wok, Spatula, Knife, Cutting Board, Small Mixing Bowl
Cooking Instructions
- Prepping Ingredients: Slice the blood sausage into thick rounds (about 1.5–2 cm thick so they don’t break apart while stir-frying). Soak rice cakes in warm water for 10 minutes. Cut the cabbage and onion into bite-sized squares, slice green onions and chili peppers diagonally, and tear perilla leaves into broad strips.
- Mixing the Spicy Sauce: In a small bowl, combine gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, sugar, rice syrup, minced garlic, mirin, and 3–4 tbsp water until smooth.
- Stir-Frying Vegetables & Rice Cakes: Heat 2 tbsp cooking oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions, cabbage, and drained rice cakes, stir-frying for 3–4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
- Adding Sundae & Sauce: Add the thick-sliced blood sausage and pour the sauce mixture evenly over the pan. Gently toss over medium heat for 3–5 minutes so the sausage absorbs the spicy sauce without bursting open.
- Adding Perilla Leaves & Wild Sesame Powder: Turn heat to low, add the green onions, chili peppers, perilla leaves, and 2 tbsp wild sesame powder (deul-kkaetgaru). Toss rapidly for 1 minute until fragrant and glossy. Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving.
💡 Cooking & Pairing Tips
- Perilla Leaves & Wild Sesame Powder: Adding fresh perilla leaves (kkaet-nip) and wild sesame powder (deul-kkaetgaru) at the very end is the essential secret to removing any gamey odor (nurinnae) while creating a savory, nutty glaze.
- Slice Sundae Thickly & Handle Gently: Slice the blood sausage thickly and toss gently with a flat spatula. Slicing too thinly or over-stirring will cause the glass noodles (dangmyeon) inside to burst out of the casing.
- Perfect Food & Beverage Pairing: Served as a quintessential Korean drinking snack (anju) alongside pickled yellow radish (danmuji) or hot fish cake soup (Eomuk-guk). Pairs exceptionally well with chilled soju, makgeolli, or a cold lager beer.
Storage Instructions
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1–2 days. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat with a small splash of water to keep the sausage and rice cakes soft and tender.
Nutrition Facts (Estimated)
- Total Content : Approx. 750g (2-3 servings total)
- Calories : 820 kcal total (approx. 109 kcal per 100g / 273 kcal per 1 serving)
– Sodium : 1,220mg (61%)
– Total Carbohydrate : 118g (36%)
– Sugar : 18g (18%)
– Total Fat : 26g (48%)
– Trans Fat : 0g
– Saturated Fat : 6g (40%)
– Cholesterol : 95mg (32%)
– Protein : 28g (51%)
– Calcium : 160mg (16%)
The Origins and Culture of Sundaebokkeum (Stir-fried Blood Sausag)
1. Roots in Traditional Markets and Working-Class Comfort
- Sundae-bokkeum (stir-fried blood sausage) originated as a practical, hearty comfort food in traditional Korean markets and neighborhood snack shops, where vendors stir-fried blood sausage with vegetables and savory sauce.
- Crafted from accessible ingredients like sundae, cabbage, and glass noodles, it evolved from a humble everyday snack into a universally cherished popular dish.
2. Chewy Textures, Sweet-Spicy Sauce, and Nutty Perilla
- The defining charm of Sundae-bokkeum is the contrast between the bouncy, tender texture of the sundae and a robust, sweet-and-spicy gochujang-based sauce.
- Tossed with crisp cabbage, onions, perilla leaves, and glass noodles, it is generously finished with a fragrant dusting of perilla seed powder, which adds a deep, nutty richness that harmonizes with the sausage.
3. A Cozy Market Staple and Ultimate Drinking Snack
- Evoking fond memories of gathering around tables to enjoy sizzling pans of comfort food, it holds a deeply nostalgic place in Korean culinary culture.
- Whether enjoyed as a savory side dish with rice or paired with an evening glass of soju, it remains an enduring symbol of approachable, warm-hearted Korean food.
Editor’s Review
1. Sensual Spice Bursting from Chewy Blood Sausage and Nutty Perilla Seeds
The moment chewy glass-noodle blood sausage, crisp cabbage, and rice cakes merge within a fiery sweet-and-spicy glaze, an addictive wave of bold flavor immediately commands the senses. Chewy elasticity yields gently to the bite as flash-sautéed cabbage releases a refreshing burst of moisture, while toasted perilla powder and fresh perilla leaves smother any lingering gameiness. Interweaving rich nutty depth with herbal fragrance, every bite delivers a dynamically engaging and deeply satisfying culinary experience.
2. Searing Precision Forged by Timed Insertion and Perilla Emulsification
Sundaebokkeum stands as a masterclass in pan-stir-frying, safeguarding fragile sausage integrity while capturing high-heat umami. Adding delicate blood sausage only after flash-sautéing vegetables isolates essential moisture and oil, representing a crucial culinary technique that prevents the sausage casing from bursting. Finishing with ground perilla seeds and fragrant leaves emulsifies fat molecules within the sauce, expertly neutralizing gamey notes while creating a velvety, clinging glaze.
3. Heartwarming Solace Shared Around a Sizzling Pan
Rising from a sizzling skillet, the rich, savory aromas of stir-fried sausage and vegetables act as a gentle sanctuary that soothes away daily fatigue. Carrying nostalgic memories of bustling street markets and cozy late-night eateries, sharing this vibrant crimson dish reconnects tired spirits with unpretentious warmth and camaraderie. Savoring each hearty, flavorful bite washes away stress, refilling the soul with an enduring and grounded peace.