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.

Short grain brown rice rice – short and stubby, this cooks up sticky so the grains clump together, making it ideal to pick up with chopsticks and use for things like sushi where you want the rice to stick together.

Build flavors early on!

We love sauteeing some onions or leeks in butter with some thyme before adding rice to the pot, but you should use what you have around! Ginger and garlic both make for exceptional brown rice. If you're going the spice route we love turmeric, cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika with brown rice.

Glutinous rice (Oryza sativa var. glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice or waxy rice) is a type of rice grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia, and the northeastern regions of South Asia, which has opaque grains, very low amylose content, and is especially sticky when cooked.

Next, grab your glutinous or sweet rice. You can't pull this dish off with regular rice, and we generally prefer the long-grain sticky rice varieties for their texture. It's super important to rinse and soak the rice before cooking, or it won't turn out right. Here are a few tips for washing the rice correctly.

Put rice in a bowl and rinse several times in cold water until water is clear, not milky, then drain. Cover rice with cold water and let soak for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Drain rice using a fine-meshed sieve or colander (line with cheesecloth if colander holes are too large).

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!

The correct cook time and water ratio for brown rice depends on the cooking method that you're using. Properly cooked rice should have a slightly chewy consistency. Overcooked rice will be mushy; undercooked, it will be hard and crunchy.

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.

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).

How much healthier is brown rice than white rice? ›

Brown rice has a slight advantage over white rice when it comes to nutrient content. It has more fiber and antioxidants, as well as more vitamins and minerals. However, these differences aren't hugely significant.

Nutritional Content: Brown rice is more nutritious than white rice because it retains the bran and germ, which are rich in essential nutrients. It contains higher levels of fiber, vitamins (such as B vitamins), minerals (such as magnesium, pho.

If you can't find sticky rice anywhere, try searching for "sweet rice," or "glutinous rice." They are the same thing. Try using another short-grain rice or risotto rice. Both will have a stickier texture once cooked (compared to medium and long-grained rice).

White rice is the most common, but brown rice may have more health benefits. As a good source of several healthy minerals and antioxidants, brown rice may help prevent heart disease. On the other hand, white rice — especially sticky rice — provides fewer nutrients and may raise the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Starch is what causes rice to become sticky and clump together. If you cannot bear to eat rice without washing it, then rinse it once or twice—but don't rinse so much that the water runs clear. You still want some of that starch left.

The best way to make it, is to soak raw sticky rice in water overnight, allow it to sit, then steam it for about 15 minutes. You'll have beautiful fluffy and delicious sticky rice.

To make sticky rice using regular rice, let the rice soak in water for at least 30 minutes before you cook it, which will help make it stickier in the end. Then, add 2 parts water and 1 part rice to a large pot. Bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat.