I love making this Chinese Sticky Rice for New Year’s Eve because it brings such a warm, festive feeling to the table. It’s simple to prepare, full of sweet and comforting flavors, and looks absolutely stunning when served!
Why you’ll love this recipe
This Chinese Sticky Rice is soft, chewy, and beautifully sweet with the rich flavor of brown sugar. It’s a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, making it perfect for festive occasions like Lunar New Year.
The recipe is easy to follow, needs only basic ingredients, and creates a showstopping dish that your family and guests will love!
Ingredients
300 g glutinous rice
100 g brown sugar
8 red dates (jujubes)
30 g raisins
20 g goji berries
water, as needed
Note: Choose good-quality glutinous rice for the best soft and chewy texture. If you like, you can adjust the amount of brown sugar depending on your sweetness preference.
Instructions
1. Prepare the Glutinous Rice
Rinse the 300 g glutinous rice thoroughly and soak it in clean water for at least 2 hours.
After soaking, drain the rice and transfer it to a pot filled with plenty of cold water.
Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often to prevent sticking.
Once boiling, continue to cook for 4–5 minutes until the rice grains appear plump, soft, and separate.
Drain the rice using a strainer and set aside.
2. Make the Red Date Flowers and Prepare the Bowl
Remove the pits from the 8 red dates.
Cut each date in half. Layer them one on top of another, then roll them up tightly into a spiral shape.
Wrap the roll tightly in plastic wrap and secure it. Slice the roll in half to create two beautiful “red date flowers.” (You can see the process in the video).
Prepare two bowls (one large, one small). Place the cut side of the red date flowers face down at the bottom of each bowl.
Scatter 30 g raisins and 20 g goji berries around the flowers to decorate the base.
3. Assemble the Rice and Brown Sugar Layers
Add a layer of the cooked glutinous rice into the bowl, pressing it down firmly but gently to remove air pockets.
Sprinkle a layer of brown sugar evenly over the rice.
Continue layering — rice, brown sugar, rice, brown sugar — until the bowl is filled, finishing with a layer of brown sugar on top.
Pour water into the bowl.
4. Steam the Glutinous Rice
Place the bowl into a steamer. Cover and steam over high heat for 30 minutes.
After steaming, let it sit for 2–3 minutes.
5. Unmold and Serve
Use a spoon to gently run around the inside edge of the bowl to loosen the glutinous rice.
Place a serving plate over the bowl, and carefully invert the bowl to release the glutinous rice onto the plate.
Serve warm and enjoy the soft, sweet, and fragrant treat!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! You can make the glutinous rice a few hours ahead. To serve warm, simply steam it again for about 5–10 minutes before serving.
Can I use other dried fruits?
Absolutely. You can swap raisins and goji berries for dried cranberries, cherries, or any dried fruits you like.
What if I don’t have a steamer?
You can improvise a steamer by placing a heat-proof rack inside a large pot with a lid, then steaming the bowl over boiling water.
Is it very sweet?
The sweetness is moderate, but if you prefer it less sweet, you can reduce the brown sugar slightly without affecting the structure of the dish.
Chinese Sticky Rice
Ingredients
- 300 g glutinous rice
- 100 g brown sugar
- 8 red dates jujubes
- 30 g raisins
- 20 g goji berries
- water as needed
Instructions
Prepare the Glutinous Rice
- Rinse the 300 g glutinous rice thoroughly and soak it in clean water for at least 2 hours.
- After soaking, drain the rice and transfer it to a pot filled with plenty of cold water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often to prevent sticking.
- Once boiling, continue to cook for 4–5 minutes until the rice grains appear plump, soft, and separate.
- Drain the rice using a strainer and set aside.
Make the Red Date Flowers and Prepare the Bowl
- Remove the pits from the 8 red dates.
- Cut each date in half. Layer them one on top of another, then roll them up tightly into a spiral shape.
- Wrap the roll tightly in plastic wrap and secure it. Slice the roll in half to create two beautiful "red date flowers."(You can see the process in the video).
- Prepare two bowls (one large, one small). Place the cut side of the red date flowers face down at the bottom of each bowl.
- Scatter 30 g raisins and 20 g goji berries around the flowers to decorate the base.
Assemble the Rice and Brown Sugar Layers
- Add a layer of the cooked glutinous rice into the bowl, pressing it down firmly but gently to remove air pockets.
- Sprinkle a layer of brown sugar evenly over the rice.
- Continue layering — rice, brown sugar, rice, brown sugar — until the bowl is filled, finishing with a layer of brown sugar on top.
- Pour water into the bowl.
Steam the Glutinous Rice
- Place the bowl into a steamer. Cover and steam over high heat for 30 minutes.
- After steaming, let it sit for 2–3 minutes.
Unmold and Serve
- Use a spoon to gently run around the inside edge of the bowl to loosen the glutinous rice.
- Place a serving plate over the bowl, and carefully invert the bowl to release the glutinous rice onto the plate.
- Serve warm and enjoy the soft, sweet, and fragrant treat!
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