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Xôi gấc (red gấc sticky rice)
Xôi gấc: glutinous rice steamed with gấc fruit and coconut until glossy and red
On the first morning of Tết, and again at weddings and ancestor offerings, northern families set a dome of brilliant red xôi gấc on the altar: red for luck, sticky for a family that holds together. The colour comes from the arils of the spiky gấc fruit, which also gives a faint, melon-like sweetness, and coconut milk makes the grains rich and shiny. Frozen gấc pulp from Asian grocers works perfectly. Serve it warm, pressed into moulds, with a little sugar and toasted sesame, or beside giò lụa. Chef's tip: soak the rice for at least 6 hours; unsoaked glutinous rice stays chalky in the middle however long you steam it.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb glutinous (sticky) ricesoaked 6 hours or overnight, drained
- 7 oz gấc fruit pulpred arils with seeds removed, thawed if frozen
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 ⅛ oz sugar
- 1 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mash 7 oz gấc fruit pulp with 1 tsp salt using your fingers until it turns into a thick red paste. Work it through 1 ⅛ lb glutinous (sticky) rice until every grain is stained an even red, and leave 10 minutes.
12 minStep 2: Line a steamer basket with a damp cloth or banana leaf, spread the rice in a loose layer and poke a few holes through it with a chopstick so steam can rise.
3 minStep 3: Steam over rapidly boiling water for 30 minutes, until the grains are translucent at the edges.
30 minStep 4: Tip the rice into a bowl and stir in ½ cup coconut milk and 2 ⅛ oz sugar, then return it to the steamer.
2 minStep 5: Steam for another 25–30 minutes, stirring once, until each grain is soft right through, sticky and glossy; bite one to check there is no hard centre.
28 minStep 6: Stir in 1 tbsp neutral oil for shine, then press into a bowl or mould and turn out onto a plate. Scatter with 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds and serve warm.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 76 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does xôi gấc (red gấc sticky rice) take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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