Short-grain rice

Short-grain rice / 멥쌀 mepssal

Flavor and role

Short, round grains that become sticky when cooked so the grains cling together. The basis of Korean and Japanese rice.

Typical dishes and uses

Steamed white rice, rice served with kimchi jjigae and bulgogi, fried rice (using cold rice), idli batter substitute, rice balls.

Substitutes

Replace 1:1 with medium-grain rice (such as Calrose). Long-grain rice will be less sticky.

Storage

Keep sealed in a cool, dry place at room temperature. Best eaten within 1-2 months of milling; refrigerate in summer to keep insects away.

Main countries

Korea · Japan

Used in this book

Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)Idli with Coconut ChutneyStrogonoff de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Stroganoff)Avgolemono (Greek Egg-Lemon Chicken Soup)BibimbapBindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancakes)Dakgalbi (Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken)Gyudon (Japanese Beef Bowl)Hayashi Rice (Japanese Beef and Tomato Stew over Rice)Holubtsi (Ukrainian Cabbage Rolls)Japanese Curry Rice (Kare Raisu)Katsudon (Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl)Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Rolls)Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokkeumbap)Kiribath (Sri Lankan Milk Rice)Jeonju-Style Kongnamul Gukbap (Soybean Sprout Rice Soup)KoshariLu Rou Fan (Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice)MadroubaMastava (Uzbek Rice Soup)Omurice (Japanese Omelette Rice)Onigiri (Salmon and Okaka)Hawaiian Ahi Poke BowlRisalamande (Danish Christmas Rice Pudding)SaleegTonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet)YosenabeWhipped-Egg Avgolemono with Clear Homemade StockAvgolemono Chicken Congee with Ginger and Scallion (Greek × Chinese)Ayam Penyet Ssam with Sambal SsamjangBacalhau Brás Tamagotoji Don (Japanese Egg-Drop Rice Bowl)Coconut Grilled Pork Rice BurgerRed-Braised Beef Rice BowlDolsot Bibimbap with Crispy Rice and Beef GochujangBibimbap Burritos with Gochujang-Lime MayoCrispy Bibimbap Rice BitesGarlic-Soy Bossam Rice BowlBudae Fried Rice Cheese GratinBulgogi Cream Cheese DoriaLemongrass Pork Belly Ssam with Gochujang Nước Chấm (Vietnamese × Korean)Cá Kho Salmon DonburiCá Kho Crispy Rice Bites with Chilli MayoKimchi Bulgogi Breakfast BurritoGarlic Chip Soy-Butter Saikoro Steak Rice Bowl (Japanese × American)Belgian Beer Hayashi Rice (Carbonnade × Japanese Yōshoku)Yapp Gyudon (Senegalese × Japanese)Chawanmushi Rice Bowl with Ginger Crab GlazeChicken Cacciatore Japanese Curry Rice (Italian × Japanese)Miso-Scallion Butter Kyiv KatsuGochujang Kimchi ChiliCurrywurst Japanese Curry RiceNepali Dal Risotto with Timur Butter (Nepali x Italian)Doenjang Butter Fried Rice with Crispy EggSizzling Galbi Crispy Rice with Pour-Over BrothCrispy Gambas Rice SkilletFresh-Roasted Groundnut Soup with Goat and Rice BallsKimchi Gochujang Chicken Gumbo (Cajun × Korean)Unwrapped Gyoza Rice BowlSukiyaki-Style Gyudon with Onsen EggKimchi Cheese GyudonGyudon Rice BurgerSaffron Lamb Harira with Egg RibbonsBrown-Roux Hayashi Rice, Yōshoku-Restaurant StyleBulgogi Hayashi Rice (Korean × Japanese)Oven-Braised Holubtsi with Smoked BaconJapanese Dashi-Braised HolubtsiTiffin-House Idli with Fresh-Roasted SambarJambalaya Arancini with Cajun RémouladeSlow-Simmered European-Style Beef CurryBaked Cheese Curry with a Runny Egg (Yaki Curry)Jeyuk Onigirazu (Korean Rice Sandwich)Jjajang Cheese Rice GratinFiery Jjamppong Seafood Fried RiceJjimdak Cheese Skillet Fried RiceKabsa Arancini with Daqqus DipHarissa-Gochujang Kafteji Bibimbap (Tunisian × Korean)Lemon-Mayo Karaage OnigirazuThick-Cut Katsudon with Fresh DashiChicken Katsu Parmigiana DonGrilled Khao Man Gai Onigiri with Tao Jiao MayoBeef & Braised Burdock Kimbap with Rolled OmeletteTeriyaki Salmon Avocado KimbapFolded Kimbap Square (Four-Quadrant Seaweed Sandwich)Crispy Pork Belly and Aged Kimchi Butter Fried RiceKimchi Cheese OmuriceMozzarella Kimchi Fried Rice CroquettesKimchi Jjigae Cheesy Crispy Fried RicePandan Kiribath with Seeni SambolMango Kiribath with Salted Coconut Cream (Sri Lankan × Thai)Crispy Kiribath Bites with Lunu Miris MayoMitmita Butter Kitfo Bibimbap (Ethiopian x Korean)Wafu Kjøttkaker Rice Bowl with Grated Daikon and Ponzu (Norwegian × Japanese)Earthenware-Pot Kongnamul Gukbap with SquidButter Soybean Sprout Pot Rice with Soft Egg and Spicy Scallion SoyCrispy Chicken Mayo Rice BowlCairo Shop-Style Koshari with ShattaCrispy Koshari Bites with Daqqa Tomato DipKorean Diner-Style Schabowy with Brown Sauce (Polish × Korean)Gochujang Lapskaus (Norwegian × Korean)Hand-Cut Lu Rou Fan with Shiitake and Caramel BraiseLu Rou Cheese Rice GratinSaffron Madrouba with Bone-in Chicken and Crispy OnionsGinger-Sesame Madrouba Dakjuk (Emirati × Korean)Crispy Madrouba Patties with Dried-Lime Yogurt DipJapanese-Style Mafé Curry RiceMapo Cheese Rice GratinGochujang Rosé Marry Me Chicken Rice BowlQovurma Mastava with Bone-In Lamb and Garlic SuzmaMastava Risotto with Cumin Beef and Dill Yogurt (Uzbek × Italian)Mastava Rice Fritters with Garlic-Dill YogurtDouble Ta'leya Molokhia with Roast Chicken and Vermicelli RiceMoussaka Doria (Japanese Rice Gratin)Kimchi Nasi GorengSambal Anchovy Coconut OnigiriBeef Skewer Oden in First DashiSlit-Open Fluffy Omurice with Quick Demi-GlaceOmurice Gimbap with Ketchup MayoShop-Style Onigiri with Salmon Flakes and Kombu TsukudaniHawaiian Luncheon Meat MusubiCrispy Rice Spicy Tuna Onigiri BitesSeared Chicken Thigh Oyakodon with Homemade DashiCheesy Dakgalbi OyakodonPisto Doria (Japanese Rice Gratin)Crispy Plov Rice Balls with CheeseAhi Poke Duo with Sushi Rice and Macadamia InamonaGochujang Salmon Poke BowlSpicy Tuna Crispy Rice BitesLemon-Ginger Ponzu Pork Medallions (American × Japanese)Rice-and-Peas Arancini with Jerk MayoVanilla-Bean Risalamande with Brown-Butter Almonds and Spiced Sour Cherry SauceCoconut Risalamande with Mango-Lime Sauce (Danish × Thai)No-Churn Risalamande Ice Cream with Cherry Ripple and Almond BrittleSaffron Saleeg with Ghee-Basted Chicken and Crispy OnionsSaleeg Chicken Doria (Saudi × Japanese yōshoku)Crispy Saleeg Rice Cakes with Lemon-Garlic YogurtSamgye Sotbap (Ginseng Chicken Pot Rice)Schnitzel Katsu CurryDashi Shabu-Shabu with Homemade Ponzu and Egg ZosuiCold Shabu Salad Bowl with Sesame PonzuKimchi Gochujang ShakshukaSizzling Sisig Kimchi Bibimbap with Gochujang-Calamansi Sauce (Filipino × Korean)Crispy-Skin Salmon Rice Bowl with Ginger-Scallion OilGochujang Chicken StroganoffSundubu Cheese Rice GratinGochujang Rosé Cream Meatball Rice BowlShrimp Tempura OnigirazuTeriyaki Chicken & Egg Mayo Rice BowlRof Salmon Tomato Takikomi Gohan (Senegalese x Japanese)Thieb Arancini with Rof Fish and Tamarind-Chilli MayoThick-Cut Rosu Katsu, Double-FriedCheese Katsu OnigirazuYakitori Rice BurgerYangzhou Crispy Rice Squares with Spicy Shrimp MayoTomato Yosenabe with Basil-Parmesan Risotto (Japanese × Italian)Yosenabe Seafood An-kake Rice Bowl with Jammy Egg

Updated 2026-10-10