noun
steamed rice; reheated rice by steaming
Often refers to cold rice that has been reheated by steaming, but can also mean freshly steamed rice.
冷やご飯を蒸し飯にして食べた。
I reheated the cold rice by steaming it and ate it.
noun
steamed glutinous rice with red beans; festive red bean rice
Specifically refers to こわめし (strong rice) or おこわ, a celebratory dish of mochi rice and red beans steamed in a basket.
See also: こわめし
お祝いの席で蒸し飯が振る舞われた。
Steamed rice with red beans was served at the celebration.
Compound of 蒸し (steaming) and 飯 (rice). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term straightforwardly describes rice prepared by steaming.