By Ujjainee Roy
May 17, 2024
Sticky rice is one of the best things you can make at home! During summers, it's not just a hearty and refreshing staple, it can also help you lower the body's temperature. Making it at home is simple but there are some common blunders people tend to make. Let's break them down.
One of the most common mistakes is using the wrong type of rice. Regular long-grain or medium-grain rice will not give you the desired sticky texture. For authentic sticky rice, always use glutinous or sticky rice, which is typically labeled as such.
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Sticky rice requires soaking before cooking to achieve the correct texture. Skipping this step can result in unevenly cooked rice that is either too hard or too mushy. Soak the rice for at least 4-6 hours, or overnight, to ensure it cooks evenly.
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Sticky rice should be steamed, not boiled like regular rice. Using too much water will cause the rice to become soggy and lose its characteristic stickiness. Use just enough water to soak the rice and then steam it over boiling water.
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Using the wrong steaming method can lead to unevenly cooked rice. Ideally, sticky rice should be steamed in a bamboo steamer lined with cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel. This allows the rice to cook evenly and prevents it from becoming too wet.
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When steaming sticky rice, it’s important to cover the steamer properly to trap the steam. If the lid does not fit snugly, steam can escape, leading to undercooked rice. Use a tight-fitting lid or wrap the steamer with a clean kitchen towel to ensure it’s well-sealed.
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After the rice has finished steaming, it’s essential to fluff it with a fork or chopsticks to separate the grains. This helps release excess moisture and prevents the rice from clumping together too much. Neglecting this step can result in overly sticky, clumped rice.
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