How to Make Fried Sticky Rice

This recipe is part of our collection of Fried & Baked Dim Sum Dishes. Sign up for our newsletter to get recipes, dining tips and restaurant reviews throughout the year!

Fried sticky rice is cooked from raw rice with a little bit of water and oil. It is made in a similar fashion to Italian risotto, constantly stirred with small amounts of liquid continually added.

I remember loving fried sticky rice as a child, and I imagine it remains quite popular with kids. It’s often served under a glass bowl from the dim sum cart, appearing on the table in a perfect dome.

Fried sticky rice is one of the easier dim sum dishes to make at home. It uses the classic Cantonese trio of Chinese sausages, black mushrooms and dried shrimp to create a savory, satisfying flavor combination.

Can you share any expert tips from your experience making fried sticky rice? Want to ask a question before you try making it yourself? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!

Fried Sticky Rice Recipe

Makes: 4-6 Servings | Prep Time: 2 Hours | Cook Time: 1 Hour
Adapted From: Cook, Eat, Share

Ingredients

12 ounces diced Chinese sausage
9-10 medium dried black mushrooms
1/2 cup dried shrimps
3 cups short-grain sweet rice
3 to 4 tablespoons soy sauce
salt to taste
white pepper to taste
2-3 teaspoons sugar
3-4 tablespoons sesame oil
3-4 green onions, minced
cooking oil

Directions

1. Wash, rinse, and soak rice with enough water to cover for at least 2 hours. Drain.

2. Soften the dried mushrooms by soaking in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Squeeze out any excess water, remove the mushroom stems and dice finely. Reserve the liquid.

3. Soften the dried shrimp by soaking in hot water for 45 minutes. Reserve the liquid.

4. Heat a large wok over medium hight heat and stir fry the Chinese sausage for 5 minutes until the fat is released and the sausage has turned darker in color.

5. Add the mushrooms and stir fry for another 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and stir fry for another 5 minutes. Remove the sausage, mushroom and shrimp mixture from the wok and set aside.

6. Without cleaning the wok, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and return the wok to medium high heat.

7. Gently stir fry the sweet rice for 5-10 minutes (leaving it 1-2 minutes on each side before turning), until the rice is translucent.

8. Add 2/3 cup of the reserved mushroom and shrimp soaking liquid to the rice, allowing it to absorb and cook. Alternate adding a little liquid and cooking the rice, taking care not to let the rice stick or burn, until the rice is soft. You will use between 2 and 3 cups of liquid and this should take 15-20 minutes. Make sure not to pour the sediment from the mushroom and shrimp liquid into the rice.

9. Add the sausage, mushroom and shrimp mixture to the rice and stir fry.

10. Add the soy sauce 1 tablespoon at a time, salt, white pepper and sugar. Add a bit of each seasoning at a time, stir fry and then taste.

11. Stir fry the rice until it is translucent and slightly sticky/chewy texture. Splash with 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and stir fry to mix into the rice.

12. Sprinkle with the chopped green onion and mix to incorporate.

13. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Learn more about Fried Sticky Rice from these Experts

Watch Wantanmien make Fried Sticky Rice in her home kitchen (VIDEO)
Tao from A Nurse’s Comfort Kitchen makes Fried Sticky Rice
Smoky Wok makes Cantonese-style Fried Sticky Rice

HT: Photo by Northwest Edge.