Xoi Dau Den (Black Bean Sticky Rice)
I’m a fan of sticky rice. Beside special dishes like banh chung, in daily life, Vietnamese people often eat steamed sticky rice for breakfast or lunch. To add more flavor to sticky rice, they mix it with various types of beans, with black beans being one of them, which is called Xoi Dau Den.
What is Xoi Dau Den?
In Vietnamese, “Xoi” (xôi) means steamed sticky rice, and “Dau Den” (đậu đen) is Black Bean. The name is straight-forward: it indicates the combination of sticky rice (glutinous rice) and black beans. A similar formula is applied to all other types of sticky rice in Vietnam, such as Xoi Dau Xanh (Mung Bean Sticky Rice), Xoi Dau Phong (Peanut Sticky Rice), Xoi Dau Do (Red Bean Sticky Rice), or Xoi Gac (Gac Sticky Rice).
Xoi Dau Den is often served sweet with coconut milk and crushed peanuts or roasted white sesame seeds. Together with Vietnamese Black Bean Dessert, these are the most popular dishes made with Black Beans among Vietnamese people.
Ingredients
To make Xoi Dau Den, you’ll only need 2 ingredients, Sticky Rice (Xoi) and Black Bean (Dau Den). When serving it, you can choose from some tasty toppings. Let’s learn about them:
- Black Bean: Black beans are small, dark-colored beans that are often used in dishes from various cuisines around the world. They are known for their rich, earthy flavor and firm texture. Black beans are a good source of protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritious addition to meals. To make this dish, you will need ½ cup to 1/3 cup (100g) of black bean per 1 cup of sticky rice.
- Sticky rice: Sticky rice, also known as glutinous rice or sweet rice, is a type of rice that differs from the more common long-grain and medium-grain rice varieties. It has a high starch content, giving it a sticky and chewy texture when cooked. Despite being called sweet rice, it does not have a sweet flavor but rather a neutral taste. This type of rice is particularly popular in East and Southeast Asian cuisines, from rice cakes to various desserts. For serving 2 to 4 people, use 1 to 2 cups of sticky rice when preparing Xoi Dau Den.
- Toppings: Choose from grated coconut, coconut milk, smashed peanuts, or sesame. My favorites are eating Black Bean Sticky Rice with grated coconut and smashed peanuts, but coconut milk is still delicious.
Making Xoi Dau Den (Black Bean Sticky Rice)
Step 1. Preparation
Both black beans and sticky rice require soaking for several hours before cooking.
Sticky rice: Rinse the rice under running water several times until the water runs clear. This step removes excess starch and ensures a good final texture for Xoi Dau Den. Fill the bowl with enough water to cover the rice. You will need to soak it in water for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Black beans: Choose dried black beans and rinse them under water to remove any impurities. Like the rice, soak the black beans in fresh water, but for a longer time. Ideally, soak them for 4 hours to 8 hours or overnight.
Step 2. Cooking with a rice cooker/ instant pot
After soaking your ingredients for a long enough time, you can start to cook them. Rinse the glutinous rice and black bean the one last time and drain out all the water.
Cooking with a rice cooker or instant pot: Add both ingredients to the rice cooker or instant pot’s inner pot. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, then add a pinch of salt and enough water to cover the surface of the rice & black bean mix. Don’t add too much water above the surface or else the sticky rice may become mushy.
Return the pot to the rice cooker and turn on the cooking mode. Wait for an additional 10 minutes until it switches to warm mode, then open the lid and stir the rice evenly. Check a piece of bean and rice to make sure they are well cooked.
With an instant pot, select the high-pressure cooking mode for 15 minutes and allow it to naturally release pressure for about 5 minutes; or cook for 18 minutes and release pressure quickly by moving the pressure release valve to the open position.
Step 3. Serving
Since Xoi Dau Den is sticky, you can shape it into a cool form or let it settle freely on a dish. Then, drizzle coconut milk (if any) on top. Finally, Add grated coconut, granulated sugar, smashed peanuts, or roasted white sesame on top.
Serve the sticky rice hot. If you prefer not to add sweetness directly by using granulated sugar, you can dissolve sugar in coconut milk and drizzle it over your Xoi Dau Den.
Storing Xoi Dau Den
When you have leftover Xoi Dau Den after enjoying it, you can store it either at room temperature or in the fridge.
To preserve it at room temperature, first, wait until it has completely cooled down. Place your cooled sticky rice inside an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. At room temperature, you can store it for a maximum of one day. Additionally, keep an eye out for any signs that your leftover sticky rice might be going bad, such as a strange smell or texture, especially on a hot summer day. If it seems off in any way, it’s better to throw it away than to eat it.
For keeping Xoi Dau Den for a longer time, store it in a container in the fridge. Your leftovers can stay fresh in there for about 3-4 days. If you have even more leftovers and want to save them for a longer period, you can put them in the freezer. It can stay good for 1-2 months, but don’t forget to label it and consume it as soon as possible.
When you’re ready to enjoy your leftover Xoi Dau Den again, you can warm it up in a microwave or a steamer. You might need to add a little water or coconut milk to help it get back its stickiness. Warm it up a bit at a time, stirring or fluffing it with a fork or chopstick until it reaches your desired temperature.
Enjoy your Xoi Dau Den until the last piece!
Xoi Dau Den (Black Bean Sticky Rice)
To add more flavors to sticky rice, they mix it with various types of beans, and black bean is one of those which results in Xoi Dau Den.
Instructions
Step 1. Preparation
Both black bean and sticky rice require to soak in several hours before cooking.
- Sticky rice: Rinse the rice under running water several times until the water runs clear. Fill the bowl with enough water to cover the rice. You will need to soak it in water for 30 minutes – 1 hours.
- Black beans: Choose dried black beans and rinse them under water to remove any impurities. Soak it in 4 hours or overnight.
Step 2. Cooking with a rice cooker/ instant pot
- After soaking your ingredients in enough time, you can start to cook them. Rinse glutinous rice and black bean the one last time and drain out all water.
- Add both ingredients to the rice cooker or instant pot’s inner pot. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, then add a pinch of salt and an amount of water which covers the surfaces of rice & black bean mix. Don’t add too much water above the surface or else the sticky rice may come mushy.
Cooking with rice cooker:
- Return the pot to rice cooker and turn on cooking mode. Until it turns to warm mode, wait for 10 minutes more, then open the lid and stir the rice evenly. Check a piece of bean and rice to make sure all are well cooked (image below).
Cooking with Instant pot:
- Select the high-pressure cooking mode for 15 minutes and allow it to naturally release pressure for about 5 minutes; or for 18 minutes and release pressure quickly by moving the pressure release valve to the open position.
Step 3. Serving
- As Xoi Dau Den is sticky, you can shape in a cool form or let them settle freely on a dish. Then, drizzle coconut milk (if any) on. Finally, Add grated coconut, granulated sugar, smashed peanuts or roasted white sesame on top.
- Serve sticky rice hot. If you don’t like to add the sweetness directly by using granulated sugar, you can dissolve sugar in coconut milk and drizzle it on your Xoi Dau Den. The image below shows a version of Xoi Dau Den with coconut milk and sesame.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 150gAmount Per Serving: Calories: 152