Black glutinous rice

Riz gluant noir

What it is

The purple is in the bran, not the endosperm: mill it white and it cooks like any other sticky rice, colourless and unremarkable. It is one of the rices sold as forbidden rice, on the story that it was reserved for the emperor — a good line, though the documentary record behind it is thin.

In the kitchen

Soak overnight, then steam rather than boil: boiled, the grains blow open and the water carries off the colour. Cut it one part to three with white glutinous rice if you want a coconut pudding that sets rather than stays soupy.

Goes with

Coconut milk Palm sugar Mango Pandan leaf Black sesame Ginger Banana

Same species

Akazu Arborio rice Rice paper (bánh tráng) Basmati rice Black rice Bomba rice

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