sticky rice

Meaning

This expression refers to a type of short-grain Asian rice that becomes glue-like, sweet, and highly cohesive when cooked. It is also used colloquially to describe any rice that has clumped together, though it officially refers to glutinous rice used in dishes like mango sticky rice or sushi.

Examples

• We ordered Thai mango sticky rice for dessert.

  We ordered Thai mango sticky rice for dessert.

• You need to use sticky rice if you want to make proper sushi rolls.

  You need to use sticky rice if you want to make proper sushi rolls.

• Unlike long-grain rice, sticky rice is very easy to eat with chopsticks.

  Unlike long-grain rice, sticky rice is very easy to eat with chopsticks.

• I accidentally added too much water, and now I have sticky rice.

  I accidentally added too much water, and now I have sticky rice.

• Traditional sticky rice is steamed in a bamboo basket.

  Traditional sticky rice is steamed in a bamboo basket.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I love eating glue rice with mango.

  ✓ I love eating sticky rice with mango.

  While the botanical name is 'glutinous rice' (which sounds like gluten/glue), native speakers almost always call it 'sticky rice' in everyday contexts.

• ✗ The sushi was made with adhesive rice.

  ✓ The sushi was made with sticky rice.

  'Adhesive' is a technical term for glue or tape. For food that clings together naturally, we use 'sticky'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• For dessert, we had sweet coconut milk poured over ___.

  💡 Clumpy, sweet Asian rice.

  Show answer

  sticky rice

• It is much easier to eat ___ with chopsticks because the grains cling together.

  💡 Rice that sticks together.

  Show answer

  sticky rice