How To Make Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is a common staple in Southeast Asian countries. If you’ve ever cooked sticky rice, you know it’s different from cooking regular rice. There are many ways to prepare sticky rice, and this recipe offers a relatively simple method.
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In this quick recipe, we’ll show you how to make sticky rice without a rice cooker or any special equipment. We’ll also address some common issues you might encounter during the process.
1. About Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is the hulled seed of the glutinous rice plant, a member of the grass family. It is typically milky white and opaque, sometimes semi-transparent, with a strong sticky texture. The grains are usually long and oval-shaped, and the texture is soft. Sticky rice clusters are elongated and rough on the surface, covered by a husk.
Sticky rice has a natural sweetness and a very sticky texture, making it very pleasant to chew. While it hasn’t gained mainstream attention in the U.S., it is highly popular in Southeast Asia. For example, Chinese dishes like sticky rice chicken and zongzi, as well as Thailand’s sticky rice, use sticky rice as a key ingredient.
2. Common Methods for Cooking Sticky Rice
Cooking sticky rice differs from cooking regular rice. Sticky rice requires less water, making steaming a better method than boiling with a lot of water. This often leads to confusion about the right amount of water needed for cooking sticky rice.
Some high-end Chinese and Japanese rice cookers have special settings for sticky rice, but most do not. Additionally, these rice cookers can be quite expensive!
Many people prefer the soaking and steaming method for cooking sticky rice. This technique ensures that each batch of rice is perfectly cooked, with grains remaining separate rather than clumping together into a sticky mass like sometimes happens in rice cookers.
No more mushy, wet, or undercooked sticky rice—and no special equipment is needed! All you need is a large, deep pot with a lid, a steamer rack, and a heatproof dish. If you have a bamboo steamer (my favorite steaming tool) or a metal steamer, you can use those as well.
3. Cooking Tips for Sticky Rice
Important Tips for Cooking Sticky Rice:
Since sticky rice is quite adhesive, it's best to wet your utensils and hands when handling the cooked rice to prevent sticking.
When steaming sticky rice, you can place a cloth or a piece of parchment paper on the steaming tray or dish. Steamer liners are commonly used for this purpose.
Serve the sticky rice promptly after cooking, as it will quickly dry out and harden at room temperature. Additionally, cold and hardened sticky rice is more difficult to digest.
4. How to Store Cooked Sticky Rice
Sticky rice tends to become sticky when stored for a while, so its storage method differs from other types of rice. For best results, place the sticky rice in an airtight container and refrigerate it, preferably in a glass container, where it can be safely reheated and consumed for up to 3 days. You can also store it in a sealed container or freezer bag and freeze it for up to 2 months.
5. Recipes Featuring Sticky Rice
Salted Egg Yolk and Pork Zongzi (粽子)
Shrimp Shumai Recipe
Now, let’s make some delicious sticky rice!
INGREDIENTS
MAIN INGREDIENTS
- 100g sticky rice
ACCESSORIES
- A small amount of drinking water
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
First, take out the 100g of sticky rice you have prepared.
STEP 2
Rinse the sticky rice thoroughly and soak it in clean water for 2 hours.
Tip:
Soaking the sticky rice allows the grains to absorb water and expand, which helps them cook faster and saves time and energy. Soaked sticky rice will become softer and smoother after cooking, resulting in a better texture.
STEP 3
After 2 hours: Drain the soaked sticky rice and transfer it to a shallow dish (you can line the dish with a damp cloth). Add a small amount of drinking water to the rice.
Tip:
You don’t need to add too much water; just ensure the water level is even with half of the sticky rice.
STEP 4
Add a spoonful of water to the rice cooker and place the steaming rack on top.
Tip:
You can steam sticky rice in a regular home rice cooker by following these steps. Steaming racks are commonly available, but if you don’t have one, you can use any metal container that can support the sticky rice dish.
STEP 5
Place the soaked sticky rice on the steaming rack.
STEP 6
Set the rice cooker to the "Cook" setting and steam for about 30 minutes.
Tip:
This method will produce sticky rice with a firmer, drier texture. If you prefer a softer, stickier texture, omit the steaming rack, add a bit more water, and use the rice cooker’s regular cooking setting.
STEP 7
Let the sticky rice sit, covered, for 5 minutes after the cooking is complete. Your fragrant sticky rice is now ready to enjoy.
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