Thai Sticky Rice Recipe Steamer Tips

THAI STICKY RICE RECIPE & STEAMER TIPS

Steps:

• Rinse the rice a few times by running water over it, swishing it around, and draining out the water as much as you can, and repeating it, until the water looks more clear.
• Soak the sweet rice in water with a few inches above it (make sure you have room above it cuz the rice will expand as it soaks) for at least 4 hours to overnight.
• Fill a saute pan, or pot with a few inches of water. Bring it to a boil.
• Place the splatter guard on top of the pot, and spread out the rice in a thin layer.
• Place another pot or bowl on top of the splatter guard, so it covers the rice, but doesn't touch it (see in pic above).
• Let the rice cook for about 12-18 minutes or so, depending on your stove top, until it's sticking together and cooked through.
• Using a spatula, flip the rice over in sections, so the other side of the rice cooks for about 3 minutes or so. I like to taste it to see if it's reached the sticky, chewy texture.
• If you have a steamer pot, you can follow the same steps as above, but make sure you put a cheesecloth, or something in the steaming area, so your rice doesn't fall through the large steamer holes.
• Fill the aluminum pot with a few inches of water, and bring it to a boil.
• Wet the bamboo part of the steamer until it is damp to the touch.
• Add the sticky rice to the basket, and press it down.
• Find a lid that covers the sticky rice, but doesn't touch it. It doesn't have to fit perfectly. As long as the rice is covered and the lid isn't touching the rice.
• Let the rice cook for about 18-20 minutes, depending on your stove top. Then gently flip the rice over by taking off the basket and gently jiggling the basket until the rice shifts, and it flips over, so the other side of the rice can cook.
• Cook the rice for another 5 minutes or so, until all the rice is sticky, and cooked through.

HOW TO MAKE THAI STICKY RICE (วิธีทำ ข้าวเหนียว)

Steps:

• The night before you want to cook sticky rice, take your raw sticky rice, place it into a bowl or plastic tub, submerge in water, and allow to soak room temperature overnight. Alternatively, you can soak for at least 4 - 5 hours, but overnight is best.
• Take the sticky rice out of the water (and the grains should be softer and a little swollen), and place into a bamboo steamer, or any type of steamer. Cover the steamer with either a lid, or you can do what I did and cover the basket with a cloth, then a metal lid - just to keep all the steam within the rice.
• Add water to a pot with the steamer over the pot (just make sure the water doesn't touch the sticky rice), and once the water comes to a boil, steam for 15 - 20 minutes (usually 15 minutes for me is perfect) on a medium heat.
• After 15 minutes take off the lid carefully, because it will be very hot, and just grab a taste test of the sticky rice to make sure it's soft and fluffy. If it's still a little crunchy, steam for a few more minutes, but if it's good to go, turn off the heat and either eat immediately, or transfer to some sort of airtight container or basket to hold until you're ready to eat.
• Enjoy Thai sticky rice while it's hot and fresh.

THAI STICKY RICE

Steps:

• Place rice in a large bowl and add enough room-temperature water to cover by 1 inch. Soak at least 4 hours and up to 10. Once rice has soaked, rinse rattan basket to dampen, then set upright in a colander. Rinse cheesecloth to dampen, then line the inside of the rattan basket in an even layer (there will be overhang). Set aside.
• Drain rice by slowly pouring off the water; when most of the water is gone, run the tap gently over the rice to rinse it, letting the water overflow from the bowl. As the tap runs, use your hand to gently stir the rice. The water will be cloudy at first, but it will become almost clear after 2-3 minutes. At that point, drain the rice in the sink using the cloth-lined basket fitted over the colander (discard the rinsing water). Add water to the steamer pot to a depth of 2 inches. Add pandan leaf, then bring water to a boil over high heat, 5 minutes.
• Tie the cheesecloth into a bundle so the rice is completely enveloped. Place the rattan basket on top of the steamer pot. Reduce heat to medium, and place a pot lid that fits snugly inside the steamer directly on top of the rice bundle. Allow the rice to steam for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, remove pot lid. Use tongs to flip the cheesecloth bundle, so the top of the bundle now rests against the bottom of the basket. (Use the lid for assistance if necessary.) Replace the lid and steam for 15 more minutes.
• After a total of 30-35 minutes of steaming, remove rice cooker from heat. Serve immediately, or place rice bundle in an insulated container (such as an ice bucket) to maintain the heat, keeping the container covered until ready to serve, up to 1 hour.

THAI SWEET STICKY RICE WITH MANGO (KHAO NEEO MAMUANG)

Steps:

• Combine the rice and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While the rice cooks, mix together 1 1/2 cups coconut milk, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil; remove from heat and set aside. Stir the cooked rice into the coconut milk mixture; cover. Allow to cool for 1 hour.
• Make a sauce by mixing together 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the tapioca starch in a saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Place the sticky rice on a serving dish. Arrange the mangos on top of the rice. Pour the sauce over the mangos and rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.