What are all the things that we love about risotto? The creaminess. The silkiness. The intense flavor achieved from constant stirring and copious amounts of chicken broth and cream.
These things are all achievable in your kitchen. And they’re achievable without standing at the stove stirring for what seems like an eternity. Because we have more important things to do than to stir a pot of rice for a half hour, amiright? But how to achieve such a feat?
The answer: sticky. rice.
Sticky rice can be found in some big supermarkets these days, and can also be found at any Asian grocery store. It can also be found here on Amazon, for a much higher price, but it’s an option if you don’t have any Asian markets near you. Make sure you’re buying “sweet rice,” “sticky rice” or “glutinous rice,” rather than “sushi rice.”
It has the high starch content that, when combined with more moisture, creates a creamy consistency that kind of mimics the texture of a risotto without all the work. Simply cook the sticky rice and mix it up with some white wine, chicken broth, and things like parmesan cheese and mushrooms, and you’ve suddenly taken this Asian ingredient into Western territory. In a really good way.
This is actually sort of a Western take on this Asian version of Roast Chicken w/ Sticky rice. When baked in a pan, topped with roasted lemon thyme chicken, it’s freaking EPIC.
Here’s how to make it!
Recipe Instructions
Make sure to trim all the fat off the chicken (if the dish still turns out a little oily at the end, just skim it off with a spoon). Take your chicken leg quarters and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Put them in a large bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper, and add the lemon zest and thyme to the bowl. Rub the seasoning into the chicken thoroughly and set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, add a couple tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion and cook until just starting to caramelize. Add the mushrooms and cook until caramelized. Season with salt and pepper. Deglaze the pan with the wine and cook for another couple minutes.
Turn off the heat. Add all the mushrooms back into the pan and stir in the sticky rice, scallions, chicken stock, and parmesan cheese.
Check for seasoning and transfer the mushroom and rice mixture to a baking dish. Top with the chicken and brush it lightly with olive oil.
Bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is bubbly. Turn on the broiler for a couple minutes if the chicken still needs a bit of color on top. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
Hail to sticky rice! If you like this, try another sticky rice recipe like Sticky rice with Chinese Sausage, Dim Sum Sticky Rice Lotus Leaf Wraps w/ Chicken (Lo Mai Gai), or Roasted Chicken with Sticky Rice.
Roast Chicken on Wild Mushroom Sticky Rice “Risotto”
Ingredients
- 4 chicken leg quarters (or 8 chicken thighs, trimmed of all fat)
- salt and pepper
- 1 lemon (zested)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- Olive Oil
- 1 onion (finely chopped)
- 1 pound wild mushrooms (450g; shiitake, porcini, crimini, oyster, chanterelle, etc.)
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 6 cups cooked sticky rice
- 2 scallions (chopped)
- 4 cups chicken stock (about 1 liter)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Take your chicken leg quarters and pat them dry with a paper towel. Put them in a large bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper, and add the lemon zest and thyme to the bowl. Rub the seasoning into the chicken thoroughly and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, add a couple tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion and cook until just starting to caramelize. Add the mushrooms and cook until caramelized. Season with salt and pepper. Deglaze the pan with the wine and cook for another couple minutes.
- Turn off the heat. Add all the mushrooms back into the pan and stir in the rice, scallions, chicken stock, and parmesan cheese. Check for seasoning and transfer the mushroom and rice mixture to a baking dish. Top with the chicken and brush it with olive oil.
- Bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, and the rice is bubbly. Turn on the broiler for a couple minutes if the chicken still needs a bit of color on top. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
This looks very yummy, I love chicken, mushrooms and about everything else in this dish. This has been featured as one of my favourites over at Sweet and Savoury Sunday. Stop by, grab a button and link up again with us this week. Have a great day!
Thanks Laura! It is one of my sister’s more brilliant ideas. Thanks for featuring us, and happy cooking!
I saw your blog featured on Simply Fresh Dinners. When I saw the picture of this scrumptious looking chicken, I just had to come and check it out. I can’t wait to try this dish. We live pretty close to China town in NYC so finding sticky rice shouldn’t be an issue. But I suppose I’ll need to invest in a rice cooker…
Hi Christine! First, let me say that your blog’s name is pretty boss. We really hope you like the dish. A good rice cooker is an awesome investment–even one of the no-frills, simpler models usually makes any kind of rice really really well. We were using an old rice cooker manufactured circa 1989 for years!
Found your site through Simply Fresh Dinners, love it! Great recipe, Pinned!
Thanks Cheri!
i have played around with a brown short grain rice “risotto” and a koshihikari rice “risotto”, but never sticky rice so i am really, really looking forward to trying this twist. not only am i crazy addicted to this blog, but i am now crazy addicted to all of your pinterest moments. thank you, thank you, thank you sent to the entire family! cheers ~
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the blog. Let us know how you like the dish!
I’ve never made risotto with anything other than arborio rice, but this is brilliant! What a great idea and great SRC post
Thanks Stephanie!
Oh I love the idea of baked risotto. Looks decadent :)
Indeed it is, Francesca, indeed it is. But that zip of lemon zest really brightens it up too. There are so many flavors and textures going on in this dish. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
this sounds yummy, Sarah, thanks. how many cups raw rice and water will yield 6 cups cooked rice? my ancient rice cooker does not have sticky rice setting. help please
Hey Lorrie, there’s kind of an old grandma method that’s not exact, but it works. This tutorial explains it pretty well, and their rice cooker looks pretty ancient, too, so you’re good! http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Perfect-Sticky-Rice-Using-a-Rice-Cooke/
This dish looks delicious! I could die for the rice crust that forms when you cook it in the oven!!! I have never used the sticky rice, but now I definitely want to try it :)! Thank you for this fabulous recipe!!! :*
You’re very welcome Ema! Thank YOU for your fabulous drawing skills. Your mason jar gravatar is adorable. : )
What a smart idea by using sticky rice! Love the recipe. The chicken and wild mushroom combination looks perfect! :)
Thanks Maggie! : )
yum looks delicious. love the recipe & your beautiful images. thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks so much Thalia!