3 Easy Vegan Sticky Rice Recipes – Soft, Fragrant, Beginner-Friendly

Vegan sticky rice is a beloved dish in Vietnamese cuisine, known for its soft, fragrant glutinous rice and naturally wholesome flavor. Beyond traditional versions, creative variations such as vegan savory sticky rice, vegan eight-treasure sticky rice, and vegan khuc leaf sticky rice bring exciting diversity to plant-based meals. In this article, Vô Úy Vegetarian Restaurant introduces 3 delicious and easy vegan sticky rice recipes that anyone can make at home to refresh their family’s vegan menu.

Vegan Sticky Rice – A Familiar, Nutritious and Flavorful Dish

Vegan sticky rice offers rich variety in flavor, allowing everyone to choose their preferred toppings or ingredients. From classic versions to modern plant-based variations, every dish carries its own irresistible charm.

Popular types of vegan sticky rice include:

• Vegan savory sticky rice

• Vegan eight-treasure sticky rice

• Vegan khuc leaf sticky rice

• Mung bean sticky rice

• Peanut sticky rice

• Gac fruit sticky rice

• Corn sticky rice

Thanks to its versatility, vegan sticky rice is suitable for all ages and can be enjoyed for breakfast, as a main meal, or even at vegan gatherings.

3 Soft, Fragrant and Delicious Vegan Sticky Rice Recipes

Below are three easy-to-make versions of vegan sticky rice, perfect for breakfast or a wholesome weekend meal.

Vegan Savory Sticky Rice (Xôi Mặn Chay)

This savory version combines sticky rice with lotus seeds, vegetables, and mushrooms. It’s nutritious, flavorful, and ideal for a hearty breakfast.

Ingredients

• 550g glutinous rice

• 250g frozen lotus seeds

• 100g button mushrooms

• 100g fresh shiitake mushrooms

• 1 carrot

• 1 stalk leek / green onion

• ¼ cabbage

• 5 tbsp soybean oil

• ½ tsp soy sauce

• Pinch of sugar/salt

• 2 tbsp cooking oil

• 1 tsp vegan seasoning powder

• Banana leaves

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the lotus seeds

Soak frozen lotus seeds for 10–15 minutes until softened, remove the bitter core, then boil with 400ml water and 1 tsp salt for 10–15 minutes until tender.

Step 2: Soak the rice

Rinse glutinous rice and soak for 15 minutes.
Tip: Choose rice with slightly opaque white grains and natural fragrance.

Step 3: Prepare the vegetables

• Soak mushrooms in lightly salted water, then slice.

• Dice carrot.

• Chop leek.

• Slice cabbage into small squares.

• Mix cabbage + carrot with 1 tsp sugar + 1 tsp salt, then squeeze dry.
  Tip: Squeezing the vegetables thoroughly keeps them crisp after stir-frying.

Step 4: Fry the leek

Heat 5 tbsp oil and fry leek until golden and fragrant. Remove and drain.

Step 5: Prepare the steamer

Line the steamer with banana leaves.

Step 6: Steam the sticky rice

Place the soaked rice into the steamer. Create small holes for steam circulation.
Spread lotus seeds on top and steam for 10 minutes.

Step 7: Stir-fry the toppings

Stir-fry mushrooms:

• Heat ½ tbsp oil and sauté some chopped leek.

• Add mushrooms, season with vegan seasoning powder, soy sauce, and a pinch of sugar.

• Stir on high heat until dry and aromatic.

Stir-fry carrot + cabbage:

• Add oil, stir-fry quickly over high heat until dry.

Step 8: Assemble the savory vegan sticky rice

When the rice is cooked, top with mushrooms, carrot, cabbage, and crispy fried leek. Pour a little scallion oil on top for aroma.

Result: A warm, soft, fragrant bowl of vegan savory sticky rice with tender lotus seeds, sweet mushrooms, crunchy veggies, and the aroma of fried leek—rich, balanced, and satisfying.

Vegan Eight-Treasure Sticky Rice (Xôi Bát Bửu Chay)

Vegan eight-treasure sticky rice symbolizes abundance, combining a colorful mix of vegetables, nuts, and vegan meat for a nourishing and festive dish.

Ingredients

• 500g glutinous rice

• Pickled radish, carrot, shiitake, vegan cinnamon ham, vegan fishcake (50g each)

• 100g lotus seeds

• 50g green peas, 50g cashews, 50g wood ear mushrooms

• Scallions

• 250ml coconut milk

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 4 tbsp cooking oil

• 1 tbsp vegan seasoning

• Salt/sugar

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare ingredients

Rinse and dice everything. Soak glutinous rice for 8 hours. Boil lotus seeds until cooked.

Step 2: Stir-fry the filling

Sauté the pickled radish, carrot, mushrooms, and vegan ham. Season with soy sauce, vegan seasoning, sugar. Add peas, cashews, lotus seeds and stir for 3 minutes.

Step 3: Steam the sticky rice

Mix rice with oil and salt. Steam for 15 minutes. Pour coconut milk + sugar over the rice, toss lightly, and steam 30 more minutes.

Step 4: Finish

Mix the sticky rice with the filling—or wrap it in lotus leaves and steam 5 extra minutes for enhanced aroma.

Easy Vegan Khuc Leaf Sticky Rice (Xôi Khúc Chay)

This plant-based version keeps the signature fragrance of khúc leaves, paired with mung bean filling and savory mushrooms.

Ingredients

• 200g glutinous rice flour

• 100g glutinous rice

• 100g peeled mung beans

• 70g vegan sausage

• 20g wood ear mushrooms

• 20g shiitake mushrooms

• 4 shallots

• 150ml pandan + chaya leaf juice

• 10 banana leaf sheets

• 2 tsp sugar

• 1 tsp pepper

• 1 tsp vegan seasoning

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients

• Soak glutinous rice for 3 hours.

• Cook mung beans until soft, then mash.

• Soak mushrooms until soft, then shred.

• Blend pandan + chaya leaves, strain to get 150ml juice.

• Slice vegan sausage.

• Slice shallots.

• Clean and cut banana leaves.

Step 2: Make the filling

Sauté shallots, then stir-fry vegan sausage, mushrooms, pepper, sugar, and vegan seasoning.

Step 3: Make the dough

Mix glutinous rice flour + glutinous rice + salt.
Warm the pandan leaf juice and add gradually while kneading until the dough is soft and smooth.

Step 4: Shape the filling balls

Mix mashed mung beans with fried shallots.
Flatten a layer of mung beans, add the mushroom filling, then form a ball.

Step 5: Wrap the sticky rice balls

Divide the dough into small portions.
Flatten, add the filling ball, and shape into a smooth ball.
Coat each ball in glutinous rice, then wrap in banana leaves.

Step 6: Steam

Steam for 30–40 minutes until the sticky rice balls are fully cooked

Vegan sticky rice is simple, nutritious, and versatile—perfect for breakfast, a light main meal, or family gatherings. With these three recipes, you can easily diversify your vegan menu at home. For a refined and flavorful experience, visit Vô Úy Vegetarian Restaurant, where every plant-based dish is prepared with care, creativity, and passion.

How Many Calories Are in Vegan Sticky Rice? Does It Cause Weight Gain?

A single serving of vegan sticky rice typically ranges from 400–600 calories, depending on the type and the toppings used.
Here are some reference calorie levels:

• Corn sticky rice: ~310 calories

• Gac fruit sticky rice: ~600 calories

• Vegan savory sticky rice: ~500 calories

• Mung bean / black bean sticky rice: ~500 calories

Vegan sticky rice itself is not the main cause of weight gain, but if you are on a weight-loss diet, you should monitor your portions because sticky rice is high in carbohydrates—especially when paired with peanuts, fried toppings, or vegan meat substitutes.

How to Properly Store Vegan Sticky Rice to Keep It Fresh and Safe

To maintain the soft, fragrant texture of vegan sticky rice, proper storage is essential. Incorrect storage can cause sogginess, spoilage, or loss of texture.

Here are the best storage practices:

• Let the sticky rice cool completely before storing.

• Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume within the same day.

• Reheat by steaming or microwaving; add a few drops of water to restore moisture.

• Store toppings separately to prevent the sticky rice from becoming mushy.

• Avoid leaving sticky rice at room temperature for too long, especially in hot weather.

• When packing for travel, keep sticky rice and toppings in separate containers. Combine only when ready to eat.

Proper storage not only preserves texture but also ensures food safety.

8 Tips for Choosing Fresh Ingredients for Better Vegan Sticky Rice

Fresh, clean ingredients are the key to creating delicious, high-quality vegan sticky rice.
Vô Úy Vegetarian Restaurant recommends these eight simple but effective tips:

• Glutinous rice: Choose grains that are even, opaque white, lightly fragrant, and free of pests.

• Mung beans: Bright yellow, non-moldy, not overly firm.

• Vegan ham: Buy from reputable stores and check expiration dates.

• Tofu skin: Light in color, odorless, free of mold.

• Mushrooms: Fresh, firm stems, no discoloration or yellowing.

• Leek or scallions: Green, crisp, not wilted.

• Vegetables: Fresh, clean, undamaged.

• Peanuts: Bright yellow, crunchy, not damp or moldy.

Carefully selected ingredients make vegan sticky rice tastier, safer, and more naturally flavorful. This is also the standard Vô Úy follows to bring diners the finest plant-based dishes.

Conclusion

Vegan sticky rice is fragrant, nourishing, and simple to prepare—perfect for any meal of the day. If you want to enjoy high-quality, authentic, and diverse sticky rice dishes, visit Vô Úy Vegetarian Restaurant, where each vegan sticky rice dish is crafted with care, creativity, and dedication to plant-based cuisine.