Sticky rice is a staple ingredient in Asian cooking. It has a sticky texture and a lightly sweet, fragrant taste and is used in both sweet and savory dishes in Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Filipino cuisine.

This recipe will show you how to cook sticky rice without any special equipment, like a rice cooker. Instead, we will use the traditional foolproof method of soaking the rice and steaming it to yield perfectly sticky, not mushy sticky glutinous rice.

How to Make Sticky Rice

Here are the step-by-step instructions for how to cook sticky rice.

1. Add the sticky rice to a mixing bowl or other deep container. Fill it with water so that the water level is at least 3 inches above the rice.
2. Soak for a minimum of 4 hours and up to 24 hours. If you are soaking the rice overnight, cover and place it in the refrigerator.

3. Drain the water, and evenly arrange the soaked sticky rice on your steamer. You can use a heat-proof, rimmed plate, natural steamer liners or parchment paper.

4. Cover and steam over medium high heat for 30-40 minutes.

5. Open the lid and serve immediately.

Storage Instructions

You can store the sticky rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator once it has cooled to room temperature for up to 5 days.

Reheat: sprinkle a few drops of water over the rice and cover with a damp paper towel and microwave in 30 second increments until warm. Or you can steam the sticky rice in the steamer until warm.

FAQ

Is sweet rice, sticky rice and glutinous rice the same?

Yes! Sweet rice, sticky rice and glutinous rice are the same thing. They just have different names that both describe the slightly sweet, sticky, glue-like texture of the rice when cooked.

Is glutinous rice gluten free?

Yes, despite the name, glutinous rice is made with white rice and is entirely gluten-free.

Is glutinous sticky rice the same as sushi rice?

No, glutinous rice and sushi rice are not the same. They may have a sticky texture, but glutinous rice has a higher amount of starch in it.

Sticky Rice Recipe