The Best Sticky Brown Rice Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to sticky rice? ›

The key to sticky rice is to not rinse the rice — this washes away the starch dust that allows the rice to clump. Soak the sticky rice for in enough water to cover the rice. This softens the grain and the extra water helps add that fluffy texture. Soaking for 4-24 hours is a good range.

It's not as easy to achieve sticky brown rice because the bran layer is a natural barrier with the starch required to make the rice sticky.

The easiest way to get the ideal taste and texture, rinse grains before cooking. Soaking rice will rinse off any excess starch. Trust me, you want the rice grains clump rather than mushy!

What makes it sticky? Unlike classic white or wholegrain rice, sticky rice has a much higher starch content containing unusually high amounts of amylopectin and a very low amount of amylose.

Amylopectin is a highly branched starch molecule that is responsible for making rice gelatinous and sticky. Rice with a high amount of amylopectin will be very sticky once cooked.

For this technique, you'll boil your rice in an abundance of water for 30 minutes. Drain off the excess water, return the rice to the pot, cover, and let the rice steam for 10 minutes. Ta da! Perfect brown rice, every time.

Combine 4 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt in a small saucepan. Mix everything together with a spoon. This will be the seasoning for your sushi rice. It may also help your rice become a little more sticky.

That's because I'm talking about boiling the rice like pasta in a pot of salted water until it's al dente—cooking time is about 25–30 minutes. Drain the rice, then return it to the warm pot for 10 minutes, covered, off heat, to steam and get even fluffier and drier.

If you cook rice that has a high amylose content, the rice grains will fully disconnect and remain untethered after they are cooked. In contrast, amylopectin molecules make rice grains stickier when the rice is cooked.

Why do you soak sticky rice? ›

To ensure the grains cook and absorb moisture evenly, sticky rice first needs to be soaked and rinsed in water before cooking. Once steamed, the grains of glutinous rice become tender but maintain a distinct chewiness.

Sticky rice is also called sweet rice, because of its distinct taste that is subtly sweeter than other types of rice. However, even if it has a hint of sweetness, the sweet taste will not overpower the flavor of the food that will be served alongside it.

Soaking is optional, but we recommend it! Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally-occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Add rice to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (1 cup rice + 2-3 cups water).

Add extra seasoning: cooking brown rice with salt is essential for flavorful grains, but you can also infuse more flavor by adding olive oil and butter, swapping in garlic salt, or adding spices such as cayenne, ground ginger or cumin.

First, rinse the rice.

This step is essential for removing excess starches on the outside of the rice. If they're not washed away, they will cause the rice to clump and become gummy as it cooks. Our goal is to make perfectly fluffy brown rice, so don't skip this step!

Drain the water once the rice has finished soaking. Fill a large pot with 2 cups (450 milliliters) of water and add a few extra tablespoons of water. Using more water than you actually need will help make the ricer stickier and clumpier. Consider adding a dash of salt.

Tamari Sauce – Feel free to use tamari or soy sauce for a deep umami flavor. Asian Sesame Oil – Be sure to use toasted Asian sesame oil found in ethnic aisles of major grocery stores.

But I could really make it better by playing the proactive game before the rice gets stuck: “Adding a little oil or butter at the beginning of cooking will coat the grains, which will help keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot without making it mushy,” Rich says.