How to Cook Vietnamese Green Sticky Rice (Soak & No Soak)

Co-authored by JoAnna Minneci and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: July 7, 2022 References

If you’ve visited Vietnam or been to a Vietnamese market, you might have noticed a package of bright green rice on the shelves. This green rice that tastes slightly sweet and nutty is perfect for breakfasts, snacks, and desserts—plus, it’s super easy to make. Grab a package of green rice flakes, some water, and get to cooking!

Question 1 of 6:

What does green rice mean?

Green rice is immature rice that has been roasted. It gets its green color naturally without any additional dyes. After it’s roasted, green rice is then ground with a mortar and pestle until it’s flat to create flakes that can be rehydrated.^{[1]
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- In Vietnam, green rice is called com. You can find it online or at most Vietnamese markets.
- You might also see the rice labeled as “rice flakes,” but it’s all the same thing.

Question 2 of 6:

Do you need to soak glutinous rice?

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Yes, soak green rice if you’re making rice cakes or eating it plain. Green rice is glutinous, so it needs to be rehydrated. Soak 1 cup (128 g) of rice in a bowl of water (just enough to cover the rice completely) for at least 1 hour before you cook it.^{[2]
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If you’re using green rice to coat seafood, don’t soak it. Green rice flakes are perfect for adding a crispy crunch to shrimp, prawn, and other seafood dishes. If that’s what you’re doing, don’t soak the rice flakes so they keep their crispy, crunchy texture.^{[3]
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Question 3 of 6:

How long do you cook green rice?

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Cook it over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Pour 1 cup (128 g) of rehydrated rice flakes into a pan on the stovetop. Gently push the rice flakes around with a rubber spatula to keep them from burning as you cook them.^{[4]
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You don’t have to cook it at all if you don’t want to. If your plan is to eat the rice cold, you can simply rehydrate it by soaking it in water and then add your toppings, like coconut cream or coconut flakes. Mix the rice flakes together with a spoon to create the creamy texture, then dig in!^{[5]
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Question 4 of 6:

How do you know when green rice is done?

It will look mushy and sticky. The rice flakes all combine together to make one gelatinous mass. If you’re cooking the rice on a stovetop, they’ll probably start sticking to your spatula, which is when you know it’s time to eat!^{[6]
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- The rice might also turn a brighter, more vibrant green color.

Question 5 of 6:

Can you make rice cakes with green rice?

Yes, you can! When the green rice is still warm from being cooked, scoop a spoonful onto a square of plastic wrap. Fold the plastic wrap over the green rice until it’s in a (mostly) square shape, then let it cool for about 15 minutes before digging in. ^{[7]
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- The green rice is much easier to shape when it’s still warm, so try doing this right away.

Question 6 of 6:

What does green rice go well with?

Coconut goes well with rice. Since green rice is slightly sweet, creamy coconut milk or crunchy coconut flakes go super well on top. If you really have a sweet tooth, you could even add some coconut cream on top.^{[8]
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- If you’re going for a sweet dessert, add in 1 cup (128 g) of granulated sugar to the rice before you cook it.
- Or, sweeten your rice with a little bit of brown sugar or palm sugar.
- You could also add a scoop of coconut ice cream on top.