Craving soft, fragrant sticky rice but forgot to soak the rice overnight? With a few simple techniques, you can prepare delicious sticky rice with mung beans in much less time while keeping the grains tender and fluffy.

Ingredients

• 500 g glutinous rice (Thai sticky rice or another good-quality variety)

• 200 g split mung beans

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil or chicken fat

• ½ teaspoon salt

• Coconut milk (optional, for extra richness)

• Cheesecloth or a thin steaming cloth

Step 1: Speed Up the Soaking Process

Mung Beans

Place the mung beans in warm water (about 140–160°F / 60–70°C) for 1 to 1½ hours. This softens them much faster than soaking overnight. Drain and rinse before cooking.

Sticky Rice

Soak the glutinous rice in cool water for about 1 hour. If you're in a hurry, soak it in warm water for 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water and drain well.

Step 2: Briefly Blanch the Rice

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the soaked sticky rice and blanch it for about 30–40 seconds. Immediately drain and rinse with cold water.

This quick blanch helps the grains cook more evenly and shortens the steaming time while keeping the rice pleasantly chewy.

Step 3: Season the Rice

Combine the drained sticky rice with the soaked mung beans. Stir in the salt and cooking oil or chicken fat. If you enjoy a richer flavor, add a small amount of coconut milk.

The oil helps separate the grains and keeps the sticky rice soft for longer after cooking.

Step 4: Steam Until Tender

Line a steamer basket with a thin cloth and spread the rice mixture evenly inside. Cover the top with another clean cloth to reduce condensation from dripping onto the rice.

Steam for about 25 minutes. After roughly 15 minutes, gently fluff the rice with chopsticks or a fork, then continue steaming for another 10 minutes until fully cooked.

The Result

Using this method, the sticky rice cooks evenly without becoming mushy. The grains stay soft, lightly chewy, and aromatic, even though the rice wasn't soaked overnight.

Serving Ideas

This sticky rice pairs well with many savory toppings, including:

• Sliced Vietnamese pork sausage

• Shredded chicken with crispy fried shallots

• Sesame and peanut salt

• Fried or braised eggs

• Crispy fried onions for extra flavor

Storage Tips

If you have leftovers, divide the sticky rice into airtight containers and refrigerate. To reheat, steam it for a few minutes or microwave it with a small cup of water nearby to restore moisture. The rice will remain soft and delicious without drying out.