Pat-tteok: Korean Red Bean Rice Cake for Dongji

Pat-tteok (Korean Red Bean Rice Cake)

A Traditional Food Eaten on Dongji

Pat-tteok is a traditional Korean rice cake made with steamed rice flour and red bean filling.
It was often eaten on Dongji (the winter solstice) as a symbol of protection and good fortune.

In the past, red bean rice cakes were shared with family members
and sometimes placed near doors or gates to ward off bad energy.

 

🫘 Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

• 1 cup dried red beans (adzuki beans)
• Water

For the Rice Cake

• 2 cups short-grain rice flour (made from regular white rice, NOT glutinous rice)
  (In Korea, this is made from maepssal, regular non-sticky rice)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup warm water (adjust as needed)

👉 Optional:

• Sugar (for sweet filling)
• Pine nuts or jujubes (for topping)

• (Important: regular short-grain rice flour)
• For the Red Bean Filling

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🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1. Soak the Red Beans (Important)

Wash the red beans and soak them overnight (at least 8 hours).

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Step 2. First Boil and Discard the Water

Drain the beans and boil them in fresh water for 5–10 minutes.
Discard this water.

👉 This removes bitterness and creates a cleaner taste.

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Step 3. Cook the Beans Again

Add fresh water and simmer for 40–50 minutes
until the beans are very soft.

Drain and mash the beans into a paste.
Add a little salt or sugar to taste.

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Step 4. Prepare the Rice Flour

In a bowl, mix rice flour and salt.
Slowly add warm water and mix until the texture resembles damp sand.

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Step 5. Steam the Rice Cake

Line a steamer with a cloth.
Add half of the rice flour, then spread the red bean paste evenly on top.
Cover with the remaining rice flour.

Steam over medium heat for 25–30 minutes.

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Step 6. Cool and Serve

Let the rice cake cool slightly.
Cut into squares and serve.

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🌿 Why Koreans Eat Pat-tteok on Dongji

In traditional Korea, red beans were believed to repel bad spirits.
Eating or sharing red bean rice cakes on Dongji symbolized
health, protection, and a fresh start as winter deepened.

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✨ One-Line Summary

Pat-tteok is a traditional Korean red bean rice cake eaten on the winter solstice to bring protection and good fortune.