Buldak Fire Chicken with Cheese

Buldak fire chicken is my go-to meal when I need something hearty, delicious, and a little spicy that I can whip up in just 30 minutes. The cheese makes this dish, but the addition of rice cakes is also necessary. See the ingredients below: 1¾ lb chicken thighs, cut into cubes ½ cup gochugaru 2 Tbsp soy sauce ⅓ cup rice syrup or honey 3 Tbsp canola oil for marinade, plus 1 Tbsp for searing rice cakes 2 tsp minced ginger 6 large garlic cloves, minced 3 Tbsp gochujang Black pepper, to taste 1½ cups sliced rice cake ¼ cup water Salt, to taste ¾ lb mozzarella cheese shredded 1 green onion, chopped