To cook sticky rice in a delicious and attractive way is not difficult if we know some useful tips below. Sticky rice is a familiar dish for Vietnamese people and is an indispensable dish on the Tet holiday. To cook sticky rice in a delicious and attractive way is not difficult if we know some useful tips below.
Choose good glutinous rice
The quality of glutinous rice determines 70% of the deliciousness of sticky rice, so the step of choosing rice is extremely important. Types of glutinous rice such as Tule, yellow flower, or goose egg are the delicious types of sticky rice often chosen by many people to cook because they have a natural, light fragrance. When cooked, the rice is just bloomed, soft, and fragrant. Especially, the sticky rice remains tasty even after it cools.
When buying glutinous rice, you should choose rice that is evenly sized, white, shiny, not broken, and has the natural aroma of fresh rice. Absolutely avoid choosing rice that is too white because it has been too finely milled, losing the layer of bran which contains many nutrients.
Soak the rice properly
You should soak the rice for about 6 – 8 hours depending on each type of glutinous rice and it will help the cooked sticky rice be more sticky and fragrant. You should not soak the glutinous rice for too long because the rice will become sour and when cooked, it will become mushy, making the sticky rice less tasty when enjoying.
Also, when soaking glutinous rice, you should add a little salt to help remove odor and create a rich flavor when the sticky rice is cooked.
Scoop the rice into the pot by hand
You should use your hand to scoop each handful of rice into the pot instead of pouring the whole batch of rice in like usual. This will help spread the rice evenly, prevent the grains from being pressed together, and allow air to flow throughout the pot, helping the sticky rice to be evenly cooked.
Furthermore, you can also use a damp cloth outside the pot lid. The damp cloth will cover the pot tightly and prevent steam from escaping, preventing the sticky rice from becoming dry and unevenly cooked. Another tip is to put the sticky rice in the middle of the pot and leave it open around or spread the sticky rice evenly on the surface of the pot, then use chopsticks to poke 3 – 4 large holes to allow better air circulation.
Control the amount of water
The amount of water poured under the steaming pot should not be too much or too little, only about 1/3 of the pot’s capacity. At that time, it helps to have enough water to soften the sticky rice but not too soft or too mushy, which affects the beauty of sticky rice.
Moreover, you can also do it by placing a porcelain plate on the surface of the water. When the pot of water makes a clinking sound, it means it lacks water. At this time, if the sticky rice is not cooked yet, you need to add water.
Control the cooking temperature
You should pour the appropriate amount of water into the steaming pot first, then when you see the water boiling, you can place the basket and start steaming the sticky rice. Maintain a stable temperature while cooking.
Do not increase the temperature too high, otherwise, the sticky rice will easily burn, or if the temperature is too low, the sticky rice will become mushy.
Control the steaming time of sticky rice
Depending on each type of glutinous rice, the cooking time will range from 30 – 40 minutes. To have delicious and sticky sticky rice, every 10 minutes, you should open the pot lid and use a clean cloth to wipe off the water on the lid, use chopsticks to stir to ensure even cooking of the sticky rice.
Double-steaming method
To help your sticky rice keep its deliciousness and softness even if it is left for a long time, you should use the double-steaming method. When the sticky rice is just cooked, you spread it on a large tray, evenly distribute it, and let it cool under a fan. Then, put the sticky rice back into the steaming basket for another time. This way, the sticky rice will retain its original deliciousness.
Drizzle oil on the sticky rice
After the sticky rice is cooked, you should drizzle some cooking oil or chicken fat on the surface of the rice to make the sticky rice shiny, soft, and evenly mixed before taking it out.
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Below are some tips for cooking delicious sticky rice.
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Not everyone knows how to soak sticky rice with the right time and method to make delicious, chewy, and flavorful sticky rice when cooked. The following is a guide on how to soak rice to cook delicious sticky rice.
