Aromatic Sticky Rice Recipes

STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Place your preferred amount of rice in the rice cooker and wash three times by filling pot with water and draining it off just until the rice is about to spill out of the pot.
• After washing, fill pot with water until the water reaches the first line of your middle finger when you stick your middle finger down and JUST touch the rice.
• Cook rice using cooker, which automatically shuts off or clicks to warm setting depending on your cooker.
• Your rice should be nice and sticky and soak up the great flavors of anything you are adding to it, and it should also be great by itself.
• *Note* Over-washing rice will give it a distinctive fishy flavor that is NOT good.

BASIC STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Soak the rice in a container that holds at least twice the volume of rice: Cover the rice with 2 to 3 inches of room-temperature water and soak for 6 to 24 hours. If you need to shorten the soaking time, soak the rice in warm (about 100 degree) water for 2 hours. The longer soak gives more flavor and a more even, tender texture, but the rice is perfectly edible with the shorter soak in warm water.
• Drain the rice and place in a steamer basket. Set the steamer basket over several inches of boiling water in a large pot or a wok. The rice must not be in or touching the boiling water. Cover and steam for 25 minutes, or until the rice is shiny and tender. Turn the rice over after about 20 minutes, so the top layer is on the bottom. Be careful that your pot doesn't run dry during steaming; add more water if necessary, making sure to keep it from touching the rice.
• Turn the cooked rice out onto a clean work surface. Use a long-handled wooden spoon to flatten it out a little, then turn it over on itself, first from one side, then from the other, a little like folding over dough as you knead. This helps get rid of any clumps; after several foldings, the rice will be an even round lump. Place it in a covered basket or in a serving bowl covered by a damp cloth or a lid. Serve warm or at room temperature, directly from the basket or bowl. The rice will dry out if exposed to the air for long as it cools, so keep covered until serving.
• Soak the rice in a container that holds at least twice the volume of rice: Cover the rice with 2 to 3 inches of room-temperature water and soak for 6 to 24 hours. If you need to shorten the soaking time, soak the rice in warm (about 100 degree) water for 2 hours. The longer soak gives more flavor and a more even, tender texture, but the rice is perfectly edible with the shorter soak in warm water.
• Drain the rice and place in a steamer basket. Set the steamer basket over several inches of boiling water in a large pot or a wok. The rice must not be in or touching the boiling water. Cover and steam for 25 minutes, or until the rice is shiny and tender. Turn the rice over after about 20 minutes, so the top layer is on the bottom. Be careful that your pot doesn't run dry during steaming; add more water if necessary, making sure to keep it from touching the rice.
• Turn the cooked rice out onto a clean work surface. Use a long-handled wooden spoon to flatten it out a little, then turn it over on itself, first from one side, then from the other, a little like folding over dough as you knead. This helps get rid of any clumps; after several foldings, the rice will be an even round lump. Place it in a covered basket or in a serving bowl covered by a damp cloth or a lid. Serve warm or at room temperature, directly from the basket or bowl. The rice will dry out if exposed to the air for long as it cools, so keep covered until serving.

AROMATIC STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients into a large saucepan and let stand for five minutes.
• Cover the pan and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook over a low heat for 10 minutes until the water is absorbed.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow to stand covered for five further minutes.
• Remove the flavourings, if wished, and pile into a serving dish.
• Serve immediately, while very hot.

STICKY RICE LAYER CAKE (VEGAN/GLUTEN-FREE)

Steps:

• Combine flours together in a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and sugar and stir everything together.
• Add the coconut milk plus the coconut flavoring. Stir well by hand, or mix with electric beaters on low speed. I find a hand whisk works just fine.
• Once you have a fairly smooth batter, pour half of it into another bowl.
• Add a few drops of red food coloring to one of the bowls and stir to create a pink batter (or choose another color or colors according to your preference).
• Grease a loaf pan with a few drops of cooking oil (a glass one works well so you can see the layers as you add them, but it's not necessary).
• Place the loaf pan in a steamer, if you have one. If not, a flat-bottomed wok or large soup-type pot also works, as long as your loaf pan can fit inside it (I used a flat-bottomed wok for mine). You will also need a lid that will fit over both the loaf pan and the pot/wok.
• Pour some water into your steamer, or into the bottom of the pot or wok (around the loaf pan) - it should be at least 1 inch deep. Don't make the water too deep, or there will be too much splashing when it boils.
• Now pour roughly 1/3 of one color of batter (either pink or white) into the loaf pan. You can choose to make the layers thin or thick - anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 inch of batter is good.
• Bring the water to a bubbling boil, then reduce heat so that it is gently boiling around the loaf pan (If you're using a wok or pot, the boiling water may make the loaf pan rattle a little.) Cover the pot or wok/steamer with a tight-fitting lid so the cake can steam-cook.
• Steam for five minutes, or until the batter is firm to the touch. Then add your second layer on top. Tips: the second and subsequent layers will take slightly longer to cook - from 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the heat of your steamer. Cook until the middle of the cake is as firm to the touch as the outside. The cake will also rise slightly as it cooks. Also, be sure to add water to your steamer or wok/pot every 10 minutes or so.
• Continue adding layers and steaming the cake in the same way until nearly all the batter is used up. For the final layer, I like to add a few extra drops of red coloring to create a darker, contrasting top (see photo). Tips: It's better to overcook rather than undercook this cake (if you undercook some of the layers, they will turn out too soft and the cake won't hold together when sliced). Also, note that the middle of the cake may ripple towards the end - that is normal. The rippling effect will subside once it has cooled, and you won't notice it once the cake is sliced up.
• When cake is done cooking, remove the loaf pan from the steamer and allow it to cool at least 10 minutes. After it has cooled, place in the refrigerator. Chilling it will help it firm up so that slicing will be easier.
• When cake is cold, run a butter knife around the outside of the pan, then turn pan over and use the knife and your hands to nudge the cake out.
• To slice it, use a sharp, non-serrated knife and one smooth slicing motion from the top downward (try not to use too much of a sawing motion). You can simply serve this cake in slices or cut out shapes, such as diamonds or squares. Serve at room temperature. ENJOY!​ To store this cake: Place in a covered container or in a plastic bag. It can be stored for a day or two on your counter, then place in the refrigerator. I find it's best to eat this cake up within 3 days; after that, it loses its moistness and flavor.

CHINESE STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Do ahead: Rehydrate dried Shiitake mushrooms by soaking in warm water for about 1 hour. Drain well and chop. Set aside.
• Drain: Drain soaked rice and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
• Heat: Heat up a heavy large pot (I use my largest All-Clad) with 1 TB oil until hot. Add ginger and stir fry for a minute. Add Chinese sausage and Shiitake mushrooms, stir frying for another minute. Add in rice wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, white pepper, and rice. Stir to coat thoroughly. Add broth, stir to incorporate, and bring to a boil.
• Simmer: Once it reaches a boil, immediately reduce to simmer. Cover tightly and cook 45 minutes. Turn heat off and let it sit for at least 10 minutes, covered. Do not peak!
• Stir and Stand: Carefully stir cooked sticky rice, from bottom to top throughout. Cover and let stand another 10 minutes before serving.
• Garnish and Serve: Garnish with freshly sliced scallions, if desired. Chopped cilantro or chives work well, too.