Sri Lankan · Breakfast

String Hoppers

Draft recipe — not kitchen-tested
VegMedium

Diet: Veg · Vegan

String Hoppers is a Sri Lankan dish. Add water gradually because rice flour absorption varies.

Prep
35 min
Cook
20 min
Total
55 min
Servings
6
Difficulty
Medium
Cuisine
Sri Lankan
Course
Breakfast

Estimated times for the original batch. Preparation, cooking and listed waiting time are included. Batch cooking can take longer.

Jump to recipe

Representative photograph of String Hoppers.
Representative photograph of String Hoppers. Garnishes and presentation may differ. This is not a tested result of this draft. Photo credit and licence
0 of 3 steps complete

Screen wake-lock status will appear when cooking view starts.

Ingredients

Metric weights use grams. US weights use ounces; liquids use fluid ounces. Conversions are rounded. Spoon measures use 5 ml teaspoons and 15 ml tablespoons; cups use 240 ml.

Serves 6

Choose any positive whole number of servings. Ingredients and measured amounts in steps scale together. Times, temperatures and equipment stay unchanged. For larger yields, cook separate original-size batches. Counted ingredients can become fractions; beat eggs before dividing them. Fixed correction-water checks remain fixed.

Dough

Steam

Equipment

Kitchen scales; measuring jug and spoons; knife; cutting board; mixing bowls; saucepan with lid; sieve; rolling pin; steamer with lid and heatproof dishes; string-hopper press; heatproof spoon; spatula.

Check all product labels and cross-contact. Diet groups describe this listed draft, not every substitution.

Steps

Dough · About 12 min

  1. Mix salt with flour from 350 g roasted rice flour, 400 ml boiling water, ¾ tsp salt; add boiling water gradually, stirring until a soft dough forms. Cool enough to handle and knead smooth.

    Check: Look for this result: a soft dough forms.

Press · About 12 min

  1. Fill a string-hopper press and squeeze thin nests onto lightly oiled steamer mats or plates.

Steam · About 7 min

  1. Bring 1800 ml water to a boil; steam nests in batches 5–7 minutes until strands are firm and cooked through.

    Check: Look for this result: strands are firm and cooked through.

Tips

  • Add water gradually because rice flour absorption varies.
  • Use the texture and doneness checks in the method; cooking times depend on your pan and heat.

Substitutions

  • Use a fine sev press if it makes thin rice strands.

Storage

  • Cool in small shallow portions and refrigerate promptly, ideally within one hour. Use within 24 hours.
  • Reheat rice only once, until steaming hot throughout. For this draft, check reheated food reaches 74°C / 165°F. Add a little water and cover while heating.

Make ahead

  • Prepare the measured ingredients for String Hoppers one day ahead. Refrigerate chopped vegetables and other perishable ingredients separately; complete the staged cooking on the serving day.

FAQ

What matters most when making String Hoppers?

Add water gradually because rice flour absorption varies.

What can I substitute in String Hoppers?

Use a fine sev press if it makes thin rice strands.

Can I prepare String Hoppers ahead?

Prepare the measured ingredients for String Hoppers one day ahead. Refrigerate chopped vegetables and other perishable ingredients separately; complete the staged cooking on the serving day.

Food safety references

FoodSafety.gov: cooking temperatures · Food Standards Agency: rice storage and reheating