Sticky rice is an essential ingredient in many Asian dishes, especially Thai ones. This type of grain is named for its sticky consistency that occurs after the cooking process. It is an extremely popular food, usually eaten with the hands. Thanks to this guide, you will learn how to prepare it.
Ingrediants
- A cup of Thai sweet rice (or glutinous rice)
- A cup or a cup and a half of water
- Pot for steaming rice
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Glutinous Rice
Step 1. Prepare the rice
Measure it in a saucepan. If you are going to make more, be sure to leave space for one cup or one and a half cups of water (for each cup of rice).
Step 2. Rinse the rice if necessary
Washing or rinsing the rice removes nutrients, but also starches. It is not a mandatory step. Wet the beans and clean them with your hands, running the milky-colored water. Repeat this process until the water comes out clean.
Whether or not you need to rinse the rice depends on where you live and where the rice comes from. In almost all developed countries, it is not necessary to wash rice in order to clean it
Step 3. Leave the rice in the water for four hours or overnight
The more soaked the beans, the better the consistency.
Step 4. Steam the rice
Put it in a colander to get rid of all the water. You could use a Thai bamboo rice basket or a dish drainer to place on the steamer.
Wrap the rice in cheesecloth and steam it on its side for 15 minutes. Flip it over and cook on the other side for 15 minutes. Don't overcook it or it will pulp. The kernels should be sticky, not watered down
Method 2 of 3: Non-glutinous rice
Did you run out of glutinous rice? Try this instead:
Step 1. Rinse the rice as described in the method above
You could leave room for half a cup of water (for a cup of rice).
Alternatively, squeeze some lemon juice over the rice as its sugar content combines with the starch of the rice and gives an even more sticky result
Step 2. Soak the rice in the measured water for 30 minutes
Step 3. Cook the rice
There are two methods of cooking this type of rice: in a common pot or in a special electric pot for cooking rice.
- Electric pot for cooking rice: Leave the water used for soaking the rice in the pot for about 15-30 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and mix gently. Turn on the pot.
- Common pot: Add the rice and a cup or one and a half cups of water. Leave it to soak for between 20 minutes and four hours.
- Add half a teaspoon or three quarters of a teaspoon of salt to the pot.
- Bring everything to a boil and immediately lower the heat.
- Let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Leave the lid slightly open to allow some of the steam to escape (if it is not equipped with a vent valve).
Step 4. Check the rice again; if there is any water left, let it cook for another 5-7 minutes
If the liquid has been absorbed, then the rice is ready.
Method 3 of 3: Serve the sticky rice
Step 1. Choose the most suitable method for serving the food you have prepared
Some ideas include:
- Place one serving in an equivalent sized bowl.
- Wrap a banana leaf for a more authentic approach.
- Shape the sticky rice into a bowl or mold, then turn it upside down on a serving plate.
- Place it on a large serving plate so guests can pick it up with their fingers (also put bowls full of water so they can clean them later, since your fingers will be sticky too).
Advice
- To get the best sticky rice possible, Thai sweet rice is recommended. Jasmine rice is one of the worst because the grains don't bond as well with each other and the flavor is different. Non-glutinous types of rice are not as soft as Thai rice and are wetter and have a "pulped" effect.
- Use a steamer and a bamboo basket. You will find them in most Asian food stores and online.
- Make sure you tap the rice by lifting the basket; cook it for 10 minutes on each side, for a total cooking time of 20-25 minutes. The longer you leave it to steam, the stickier it will be. Test with a small amount to see if it rolls up and clumps. If so, the beans are ready. If not, continue steaming for a few more minutes and try again. Anyway, pay attention: hot! Sticky rice is great just served but let it cool for a few minutes in a bamboo basket.
- It can be tasted in a thousand ways but the simplest is to make rolls and dip them in soy sauce or chili. If you like to eat it this way, you will surely enjoy sushi as well.
