Low Sodium Sticky Rice Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis low sodium sticky rice recipe is quick, easy, and a fantastic side dish for your favorite protein! Light, flavorful, and so versatile – it makes a great side dish or to enjoy with low sodium sushi rolls.
Cook steamed white rice, and add in some oil and vinegar for a great way to jazz up rice to serve with Asian-inspired favorites. This sticky rice is great with low sodium beef stir fry, low sodium orange chicken, or low sodium vegetable stir fry!
Want more great low sodium rice recipes? Try our low sodium rice pilaf, low sodium fried rice, and low sodium chicken rice casserole.
One of the great things about low sodium cooking is that you can make so many different dishes low in sodium with some simple swaps! Sticky rice is usually made with salt or seasoned vinegar, so I wanted to make a great version that is lower in sodium but still has great flavor.
Sticky rice is fantastic on it’s own as a side dish, or can be used in dishes like low sodium sushi! I recently had some amazing sushi at Yokozuna restaurant in Okotoks Alberta and had to make some great rolls at home! When I make low sodium Asian recipes I like to make this sticky rice for a side, as it has a great taste. It’s simple, quick, and easy to make on the stove top or in the rice cooker.
Why This Recipe Works
- It’s light, simple, and made with just a few ingredients.
- This rice is super sticky so you can enjoy it with chopsticks or with a fork!
- Great with any protein: low sodium teriyaki beef, chicken dishes, or even crispy tofu.
- Ready in less than 30 minutes, it’s a quick side dish you can make anytime.
- Anyone can successfully make this rice by following our easy-to-follow photos and instructions below.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You do need to use a good rice for this recipe. I use sushi rice, which is a medium grain rice that has a sticky texture when cooked. It’s great in a pot or in a rice cooker, so you can make this recipe a few ways.
I like using a light, neutral oil in the rice for a great texture. Vegetable oil, or another light oil, like canola oil works well. You even use a light sesame oil for a bit of added flavor.
A little sugar gives this sticky rice a hint of sweetness. You don’t need much, just a little for a bit of flavor.
Unseasoned rice vinegar adds a really delicious tang to the rice. It’s classic in sushi rice, so I like to add just a bit of more flavor. Make sure it’s unseasoned rice vinegar, because seasoned varieties do have added salt.
See the recipe card below for a full list of instructions and ingredient amounts!
Additions and Substitutions
For a nuttier flavor, you can add toasted sesame oil instead of the vegetable oil. It gives this rice more of a classic fried-rice flavor, and it also really delicious!
You can skip the sugar if you desire.
If you can find brown sushi rice, that would be a great alternative to white rice.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Wash and rinse your rice thoroughly under cool running water. Wash the rice until the water runs clear. Place the rice in a pot with the water and stir well.
Step 2: Heat the rice over high heat until boiling, then reduce the heat to low and cover the rice with a pot lid. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat, then turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
Step 3: Once the rice is done, remove the pot lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Place it in a separate bowl to cool.
Step 4: Return the clean pot to the stove top and add the oil, rice vinegar, and sugar. Heat over low heat and stir for 4-5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
Step 5: Using a rice paddle, slowly pour the vinegar mixture into the cooling rice and mix well to combine.
Step 6: Add sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm, or cool if you are making sushi rolls.
Make It In a Rice Cooker
Instead of a pot, you can make this rice in a rice cooker. Wash the rice like in step 1, then add it with the water into a rice cooker, and steam for 30 minutes. Once the rice has finished cooking, fluff with a fork. Add in the rice vinegar, sugar, and vegetable oil, and stir well to combine.
Recipe FAQs
This low sodium sticky rice recipe has just 5 mg sodium per serving, as it uses unseasoned rice vinegar and no added salt. If you are ordering sticky rice at a restaurant, it may contain added salt or seasonings so be sure to check with your server or ask for nutritional information if the restaurant has it available.
If you have leftovers, store the rice in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat with a few tablespoons of water in a pot or in the microwave and stir well.
I like using unseasoned rice vinegar for my sticky rice as it has no added salt or sugar – making it a great option for low sodium cooking. That way you can add however much sugar as you like, to you taste.
More Great Low Sodium Sides
- Low Sodium Thai Crunch Salad
- Low Sodium Garlic Potatoes
- The Best Low Sodium Burrata Salad
- Low Sodium Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Low Sodium Nachos
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Low Sodium Sticky Rice
Equipment
- Pot
- Bowl
- Rice Spoon
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups white sushi rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional for crunch
Instructions
- Wash and rinse your rice thoroughly under cool running water. Wash the rice until the water runs clear. Place the rice in a pot with the water and stir well.
- Heat the rice over high heat until boiling, then reduce the heat to low and cover the rice with a pot lid. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat, then turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
- Once the rice is done, remove the pot lid and fluff the rice with a fork. Place it in a separate bowl to cool.
- Return the clean pot to the stove top and add the oil, rice vinegar, and sugar. Heat over low heat and stir for 4-5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved.
- Using a rice paddle, slowly pour the vinegar mixture into the cooling rice and mix well to combine.
- Add sesame seeds if desired. Serve warm, or cool if you are making sushi rolls.
Notes
Nutrition estimate (for 1 serving)
*Please note, all nutrition content is estimated based on the ingredients we used in our kitchen. It will vary based on your ingredients. Always check your nutrition labels to verify your nutrition content and sodium amounts.
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