Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Dumplings (Banh Khuc / Xoi Khuc)

There is nothing more satisfying than these savory Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Dumplings (Banh Khuc / Xoi Khuc) filled with hearty mung bean, ground chicken and coated with delicious sticky rice. In Viet cuisine we use a lot of glutinous / sticky rice which gives foods that chewy, sticky consistency and it is a texture that I crave often. It’s pure comfort food! These dumplings are a bit time-consuming to make but they are so worth the effort. Typically when I make these, I double the recipe. Yes, this makes a lot of dumplings, but another great thing about these dumplings is they freeze nicely, and so I can enjoy them whenever the cravings hit. When reheating, I just sprinkle the dumpling with a bit of water and then pop into the microwave for a minute.

Notes on the Recipe, Tips and Tricks

In this recipe for Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Dumplings (Banh Khuc / Xoi Khuc), I share a shortcut for making the mashed mung beans using a rice cooker. The traditional way of making these beans is to steam and then put them through a potato ricer. It’s much easier and faster to cook the beans in the rice cooker. When cooking mung beans the water tends to bubble out of the rice cooker so put a tray or thick towel underneath the rice cooker to catch any spillage. Also make sure you unplug the rice cooker right after the button pops up so the beans don’t burn and stick to the bottom.

Another easy way to cook mung beans is with the Instant Pot. Check out my recipe Instant Pot Mashed Mung Bean for the effortless steps. I love making mashed mung bean with the Instant Pot and it comes out perfectly every time!

For a vegetarian version of this Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Dumplings (Banh Khuc / Xoi Khuc) recipe, substitute the ground chicken with mushrooms and fish sauce for 1/2 tsp salt. Use 1 – 1 1/2 pounds fresh mushrooms of your choice. I love the always-abundant white mushrooms, portobellos or whichever kind you like. Keep in mind that since we’re replacing the meat, choose mushrooms with delicious texture and substance. Sauté the mushrooms with a bit of olive oil until they are soft. Because mushrooms release a lot of liquid during cook, drain all the liquid. Next squeeze out the excess water using your hands or wring with a cheesecloth. This is an important step because the extra liquid will make the filling wet and difficult to roll into filling balls. Pulse the mushrooms in a small food chopper or hand chop. Now the mushrooms are ready to add to the mung bean for a delicious vegetarian option!

Ingredients

for the Dumplings:
2 cups sticky rice (also called glutinous or sweet rice) + 1/2 tsp salt
8 oz package frozen chopped spinach
1 1/2 cups water
16 oz bag glutinous rice flour
2 Tbsp rice flour
1 Tbsp canola oil

for the Filling:
1 cup peeled split mung bean
1/2  tsp salt
1 1/2 cups water

1 tsp vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely diced onions
1/2 lb ground chicken
1 tsp fish sauce
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 tsp water

Directions

Put the mung bean and rice into individual bowls. Rinse each several times until the water is clear and soak overnight.

In a large bowl, add frozen chopped spinach plus 1 cup water. Microwave spinach on high for 5 minutes. Remove from microwave and stir spinach breaking up any remaining frozen chunks. Add the remaining 1/2 cup water and stir together.  Remove any large spinach stems and discard. Add both kinds of rice flours and oil. Mix until flour is all incorporated. Then knead for another 2 minutes forming a soft sticky dough. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 2 hours.

Rinse the mung bean one more time and drain well. Put the beans into the rice cooker. Distribute the beans forming an even layer. Add salt and water. Cook until rice cooker button pops up, approximately 25 minutes. Unplug the rice cooker right away. Using a flat spoon, mash the beans until they are creamy and you no longer see the individual beans. Cover and allow to cook for another 10 minutes. Scoop out the mung bean and place in a bowl.

In a pan over medium heat, add oil and onions and cook for 30 seconds. Add the ground chicken. Break the chicken into little pieces while cooking. Add fish sauce and black pepper. We are only partially cooking the chicken so stir-fry for no more than 3 minutes. Add the mung bean and combine with the chicken. Add water and stir. The filling should stick together at this point resembling a dough. Remove from the heat. Allow to cool slightly, approximately 5 minutes. The filling is easier to roll when it’s still warm. Use a tablespoon to scoop out the filling and roll into 20 golf-sized balls. Wet your hands if they become sticky from rolling the balls.

Rinse the glutinous rice. Use a colander to drain the rice well. Sprinkle with salt and mix together.

Place steamer paper into the steamer tray or coat with vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray. Take 1/4 cup of sticky rice and spread a thin layer on the steamer paper.

Scoop approximately 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it between your palms and then flatten. Place the filling ball in the middle and work the dough around the ball. Roll between your palms several times forming a ball. Roll the dumpling in the sticky rice until it’s evenly coated. Place the ball into the steamer tray. Continue until all dumplings are made.

Steam the dumplings. After 15 minutes, spray the dumplings with a generous amount of water, flip them and then spray with water again. Continue steaming for another 15 minutes.

Remove from the steamer and allow to cool. Enjoy them while they are fresh.

Store the Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Dumplings in the fridge in a well-sealed container for up to 1 week. Freeze the dumplings for up to 6 months. Reheat in the microwave or in a steamer.

Yields:  20 dumplings