Lotus Leaf-Wrapped Sticky Rice with Mushrooms and Chinese Sausage

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-30 · Updated 2026-07-30

Glutinous rice steamed in fragrant lotus leaves, infused with savory mushrooms and sweet Chinese sausage for a classic Hunan-inspired treat. This Chinese-inspired rice and grain recipe, ready in about 320 minutes, pairs glutinous rice, dried lotus leaves, Chinese sausage for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups glutinous rice
• 2 large leaves dried lotus leaves
• 1 link (about 100 g), sliced thin Chinese sausage
• 6 dried, soaked and sliced shiitake mushrooms
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2, finely chopped scallions
• 1 tsp, minced ginger
• 2 1/4 cups for soaking and steaming water

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 2 cups glutinous rice under cold water until water runs clear, then soak in 2 1/4 cups water for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Step 2: Soak 2 large dried lotus leaves in warm water for 30 minutes until pliable, then drain and pat dry.
3. Step 3: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tsp minced ginger, 6 soaked and sliced shiitake mushrooms, and 100 g thinly sliced Chinese sausage. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and the sausage begins to render fat.
4. Step 4: Drain the soaked rice and add it to the skillet with 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 2 chopped scallions. Stir well to combine and cook for 2 minutes to absorb flavors.
5. Step 5: Place the rice mixture in the center of each lotus leaf, fold the leaves to enclose the rice securely, and steam over boiling water for 45 minutes until the rice is tender and fragrant. Serve wrapped or unwrapped.