Thai Sticky Rice

Ginny McMeans

Ginny McMeans

Published:

July 19, 2020

Last Modified:

June 18, 2024

Thai Sticky Rice Recipe made from the air fryer or skillet will knock your socks off. The sweet and spicy sauce is delicious and is also fast and easy. Toss with Jasmine rice for a fabulous dish.

Gorgeous thai sticky rice with mushrooms and peas is filling a patterned bowl with chopsticks on the side.

Air Fryers seem to be everyone’s new passion. Yes, we still love slow cookers, and I have a beautiful Instant Pot waiting in the wings, but the Air Fryer has my full attention at the moment.

A few weeks ago, I showed you a new recipe for Air Fryer Spicy Cauliflower Stir Fry, and it has gone bonkers on the internet.

There are also high expectations going on around our house for this  Air Fryer Sticky Mushroom Rice too. So so good!

Things happen fast with an air fryer, so you can’t walk away like you can with a slow cooker, but you’ll benefit from the same safety features.

Appliances that make burning your food or yourself much harder are a definite plus. It just seems so much easier, too.

Have no fear, though. If you don’t have an air fryer, I have included instructions for a skillet, too.

Close-up of sticky rice with mushrooms and peas filling a patterned ivory bowl with chopsticks on the side.

Jasmine rice is used as the base for this spicy, sweet sauce. A wonderful multi-layered sauce filled with baby portabella mushrooms. You don’t even have to cut them up.

Most rice will work fine, though. My second choice would be basmati.

Types of rice varieties

  • Jasmine originated in Thailand and is a short-grain rice. Perfect for this recipe.
  • Basmati is Indian long-grain rice that is often used in curries and pilaf.
  • Wild Rice – not so great with this recipe but it shines in this Crockpot with Wild Rice and Pecans Recipe.
  • Arborio is the go-to rice for risotto.
  • Black rice is black and is full of antioxidants. It’s very versatile.
  • Brown rice is one that I use all of the time. It has more nutrients, is chewier, and has more fiber than white.

Cremini mushrooms are the same thing as baby portabella mushrooms if you haven’t had them before. It’s a mushroom with substance!

This Thai sticky rice recipe only takes minutes from beginning to end and you’ll have a flavorful new side dish.

You can make it a main dish also. I’ve added homemade seitan cubes in the past and it is fantastic.

Overhead view of rice. meaty mushrooms and peas is filling a bowl to overflowing with chopsticks on the side.

Ingredients

  • Jasmine is a sticky rice and helps the sauce cling.
  • Soy sauce is full of flavors – you can substitute gluten- free tamari.
  • Maple syrup counterbalances the soy sauce for a wonderful taste.
  • Garlic is a strong tasting vegetable that is used in small amounts but it tastes so good.
  • Chinese 5 Spice is a wonderful mix of cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise, and white pepper.
  • Ground ginger is a little hot and spicy.
  • White wine or rice vinegar adds another depth of flavor to the sauce.
  • Cremini mushrooms are earthy with a lot of texture.
  • Peas give that nice little sweetness to the whole recipe.
Overhead view of all of the ingredients for a comforting Asian meal are in their own small bowls and are sitting on a wooden table.

Air fryer instructions

  • First, make the rice. This recipe is so quick it will be done and hot at the same time as the sauce.
  • In a small bowl mix the soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic, Chinese 5 Spice, ground ginger, and white wine (or rice vinegar) together. Set aside.
  • Place the mushrooms in the air fryer.  You need to use the air fryer basket without holes in it. If you can set your degrees – set it to 350 degrees.  Otherwise, just turn it on.  My Air Fryer temp is built-in and always cooks at 338 degrees.  It still works great. Cook for 10 minutes.
  • Open the air fryer and shake to stir it a bit. If you have an air fryer with an arm that mixes then you don’t have to do this.
  • Pour in the peas and the liquid mix on top of the mushrooms.  Stir and cook 5 more minutes.
  • Add this to the pot of rice and stir.  Serve.
Rice, mushrooms and peas is filling a patterned bowl that's sitting on a pile of navy blue napkins. There are chopsticks sticking in the top to lift a bite.

Skillet instructions

If you don’t have an Air Fryer you can do this dish in a skillet also.

Precook the jasmine rice and set aside.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet. Add mushrooms and cook 10 minutes over medium-high heat.

Mix the next 6 ingredients and pour over the mushrooms. Add the peas and cook 5 more minutes.

See how easy it is?

Gorgeous rice with mushrooms and peas is filling a patterned bowl and is tilted towards the camera. A green glass is glimmering in the back.

Gorgeous rice with mushrooms and peas is filling a patterned bowl with chopsticks on the side.

Air Fryer Sticky Mushroom Rice

Ginny McMeans
4.2000 from 5 votes
Air Fryer Sticky Mushroom Rice will knock your socks off. There’s a skillet option too! 
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 Servings

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Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces jasmine rice – uncooked
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce – you can use gluten-free tamari
  • 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 4 cloves garlic – finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoon Chinese 5 Spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 4 tablespoons white wine – you can use rice vinegar
  • 16 ounces cremini mushrooms – wiped clean, you can cut any huge mushrooms in half
  • 1/2 cup peas frozen

Instructions
 

  • Start your rice now so that it will be done and hot at the same time as the sauce.
  • Mix the next 6 ingredients together and set aside..
  • Place the mushrooms in the air fryer.  If you can set your degrees – set it to 350 degrees.  Otherwise just turn it on.  My Air Fryer temp is built in and always cooks at 338 degrees.  Cook for 10 minutes.
  • Open the air fryer, if you don’t have one that stirs itself, pull out the pot and shake. 
  • Pour the liquid mixture and peas over the top of the mushrooms.  Stir and cook 5 more minutes.
  • Pour the mushroom/pea sauce over the pot of rice and stir.  Serve.

Nutrition

Serving:1cup, Calories:366kcal, Carbohydrates:77g, Protein:10g, Sodium:1091mg, Potassium:560mg, Fiber:2g, Sugar:10g, Vitamin A:90IU, Vitamin C:5.8mg, Calcium:68mg, Iron:2.1mg

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18 responses to “Thai Sticky Rice”

4.20 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Jenn Avatar

    You had me at mushrooms – love them so much! I can’t believe you can make rice in an air fryer! Is there anything that little appliance can’t do? 🙂

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      I love that little appliance Jenn. You have the rice separate and then mix all the air fryer sticky goodness in with the cooked rice. Thanks so much!

  2. Becky Striepe Avatar

    5 stars
    Oh my gosh, this looks so good! Dave and Darrol are both mushroom-haters, so I’ll have to make this just for me one day at lunchtime!

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      Oh, those silly boys. 🙂 You’re going to love it Becky and thank so much!

  3. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite Avatar

    I love mushrooms!!! And I love fried rice so this looks right up my alley!

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      Fantastic! You’ll love it 🙂

  4. Dianne Avatar
    Dianne

    Mushrooms and brown rice are so good together. I could happily live off this recipe!

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      Thanks so much Dianne! I love the combo too.

  5. Kristina Avatar

    WOW – I have used my (awesome) air fryer for quite a few different ideas, but fried rice? I LOVE it – cannot wait to try!

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      That’s awesome Kristina! It’s different and delicious 🙂

  6. Mel \ avirtualvegan.com Avatar

    Not you as well! I feel like I am the only one on the planet who doesn’t have an air fryer! I’ll stick to the skillet option for now but maybe one day I can give it a try in an air fryer :O) It looks so good!

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      Haha Mel. I thought I was the last one. Yes, I got an air fryer, have dove in full force and love it. 🙂

  7. Linda @ Veganosity Avatar

    This looks and sounds amazing, Ginny! I really need to bite the bullet and buy an air fryer.

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      They are actually fun to use Linda. You can use your skillet in the meantime 🙂

  8. Judy shelton Avatar
    Judy shelton

    Are you cooking the mushroom in a separate solid pan in the air fryer. If not, doesn’t the liquid fall straight through? Or am I missing a step?

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      I don’t have any holes in my air fryer. It’s a solid pan. I just looked at images on google and some do have holes in the bottom. I have a T-fal. You are not missing anything. Does a solid pan come with yours that you can switch out?

  9. Terre Dunivant Avatar
    Terre Dunivant

    Hi Ginny,

    Is there an air fryer that you recommend?

    Terre

    1. Ginny McMeans Avatar

      Not really Terre, I have the T-Fal Actifry Electric Fryer and love it. They have come out with so many since I bought this that I think you can’t go wrong with most of them. I hear Ninja has some really good ones.

Ginny McMeans

Ginny McMeans

Hi, my name is Ginny and it is fantastic that you have come to visit and see my recipes. I have a positive attitude and can’t seem to be in nature enough. My North American bird count is 678 and I’m always watching for mammals and insects too. My head is stuffed full of recipes that I want to create and life is just to dang short. The recipes feature healthy and delicious vegan food that you can enjoy now or freeze for future meals.

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