Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango
Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango is a classic dessert in Southeast and South Asia. It is especially popular in Thai cuisine and is made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and fresh mango. Enjoy it by the spoonful!
Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango is a classic dessert in South and Southeast Asia. I like to describe it as a deconstructed rice pudding. This dessert is especially renowned in Thai cuisine and is made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and fresh mango. Enjoy it by the spoonful!
Note: This post was originally published on March 29, 2012. The recipe has been updated from the archives.
I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen.
When I first shared this recipe in 2012, I wrote it in the wee hours before boarding a plane back home to New York. My calendar was packed with plans to visit friends and family, but I also returned to attend the International Association of Culinary Professionals Conference, the first of many. I was excited to learn from the pros in a landscape slowly beginning to accept and embrace the digital landscape. What was especially touching was that year, my very humble blog was up for a People’s Choice Award for Best Culinary Website or Blog. It affirmed that connecting with each of you is the most rewarding part of sharing my love for food.
As I made plans with my friends and family back home to meet for dinner, the very important question of “What do you want to eat?” continually came up. This is always the dilemma when I return home. So many foods, so little time!
I began to crave a dessert that can be found at many of the wonderful Thai restaurants scattered throughout Manhattan, and decided, why wait? If you have ever eaten Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango, then you understand. And if you haven’t, it’s time to try it. I made it before packing my suitcase, my spoon dipping into the coconut rice pudding, warm and fragrant with sweetened coconut milk and ripe mangoes. Just as I couldn’t wait to share and enjoy each bite, I couldn’t wait to share it with you.
How to Make Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango
The key to making Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango – or Mango Sticky Rice – is soaking the glutinous rice. You will need a minimum of 4 hours, but if you have the time to soak the rice overnight, even better. This is the most time-consuming part – everything else is simple!
After soaking, rinse and drain the rice in a sieve, and steam the sticky rice until tender. This will take about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, warm the coconut milk and sugar until the sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar is fully dissolved. Be careful not to boil the coconut milk.
Stir about 1/2 cup of the sweetened coconut milk into the steamed rice, and let it rest for about 15-20 minutes.
Scoop or use a mold to divide the rice into small bowls. Arrange the mango slices on top or to the side. Pour more sweetened coconut milk over the rice, and serve with additional coconut milk and mangoes on the side.
I like to add a sprinkling of shredded coconut for extra texture, but this is optional. Enjoy the dessert warm; you will find that it is much like a deconstructed rice pudding, and the sweet and tangy fresh mangoes pairs beautifully with the sweet, sticky coconut rice.
What Kind of Mango Should I Use for Mango Sticky Rice?
In the United States, I recommend looking for Ataulfo mangoes. You may also find this Mexican variety at your local grocer branded as Champagne or Honey mangoes, usually available from March to July. They have golden-yellow skin and, when ripe, sweet, scoopable flesh. While they may look similar to Manila mangoes, they are not quite the same, but very close. If you are lucky enough to find Manila mangoes, then, for me, that is the gold standard!
What is Glutinous Rice?
Glutinous rice, or sticky rice, is grown throughout Southeast, East, and South Asia. It is named such because of the sticky texture that results from cooking it, not because it contains any gluten. This texture makes it popular in many desserts and a variety of delicious savory dishes. Find it at your local Asian market.
More Plant-Based Treats
Halloween Dirt Cups with Avocado Chocolate Pudding
Mango Coconut Tapioca Pudding
Almond Butter and Jelly Vegan Milkshake
More Mango Recipes
Mango Float (Crema de Mangga)
Mango Spinach Green Smoothie
Carrot Mango and Kiwi Smoothie
Mango Coconut Tapioca Pudding
Sparkling Mango Sorbet Floats
Mango Ginger Sorbet
Note: This post was originally published on March 29, 2012. The recipe has been updated from the archives.
I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen.
Sweet Coconut Sticky Rice with Mango
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups glutinous rice
- 1 1/2 cups coconut milk
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 ripe mangoes peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
Instructions
- Rinse the rice until the water is clear; this may take 4-5 water changes. Soak the rice for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight.
- Drain the rice in a sieve and place the sieve over a saucepan of simmering water (taking care not to let the water touch the rice). Cover and steam the rice for about 20 minutes or until tender. Alternatively, you can use a steamer lined with cheesecloth.
- While the rice steams, warm the coconut milk and sugar in a small saucepan over low heat until the sugar is fully dissolved. Be careful not to boil the coconut milk.
- When the rice is ready, transfer it to a bowl and stir in 1/2 cup of the sweetened coconut milk. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, allowing the rice to absorb the milk.
- Using a large ice cream scoop or a mold, divide the rice into 6 small bowls. Arrange some mango slices on top or to the side. Drizzle some coconut milk over the rice, and serve with additional sweetened coconut milk and mangoes on the side. You may also garnish with shredded coconut if you wish. Serve warm.
Notes
What Kind of Mango Should I Use for Mango Sticky Rice?
In the United States, I recommend looking for Ataulfo mangoes. You may also find this Mexican variety at your local grocer branded as Champagne or Honey mangoes, usually available from March to July. They have golden-yellow skin and, when ripe, sweet, scoopable flesh. While they may look similar to Manila mangoes, they are not quite the same, but very close. If you are lucky enough to find Manila mangoes, then, for me, that is the gold standard!What is Glutinous Rice?
Glutinous rice, or sticky rice, is grown throughout Southeast, East, and South Asia. It is named such because of the sticky texture that results from cooking it, not because it contains any gluten. This texture makes it popular in many desserts and a variety of delicious savory dishes. Find it at your local Asian market.Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
Congratualations on being nominated, Liren! And wow it seems like you’re having a real busy trip. Hope you’re coming back with new ideas and impressions to share with us. The city you call home is one I still need to visit but it definitely is one of the few in the US that are on my list. I mean, shouldn’t everybody got to visit the Big Apple once in their lifetime at least?
Love the simplicity in your dessert and that it really isn’t too sweet. So fresh and VEGAN. :)
Cheers,
Tobias
Hi Liren,
Congratulations on the well deserved nomination. I hope your weekend went well. Coconut sticky rice is one of my favorite desserts. I love how you deconstructed it, look delicious. Have a great weekend!
Congratulations once again on the nomination! This looks absolutely delicious!
Well the nomination is well-deserved–congrats again, Liren! Looking forward to your IACP/NYC update when you return. :)
This Thai dessert is one of my favorites, and I really like spin twist with the violet sticky rice! Congrats on the nomination, your hard work with this lovely blog certainly paid off :)
I just had a bowl of this – and it really is one of the best, sweetest desserts. Congrats on the nomination!
This reminds of what I ate just a while ago! only it was filled with a shredded coconut and muscovado sugar mixture. :D Congratulations! :D
Have a great trip, Liren! And congrats on being the finalist at one of the IACP awards :)
I grew up eating this decadently delicious Thai dessert — so good!
This is beautiful!! And one of my favorite desserts! Congratulations on the nomination and good luck! I will be very happy to see you win :) You have an excellent blog and most amazing pictures!
This dessert looks delicious! I LOVE mango with sticky rice.
Beautiful dessert and photos Liren! Enjoy your weekend;-)
What a beautiful dessert! The contrast in color is lovely. Have a nice time visiting family and friends and going to the conference. You are quite deserving of this nomination, enjoy the praise, well done Liren.
We finished dinner a while ago and I’m getting hungry for a small snack… and your sweet coconut sticky rice is calling my name. This looks so delicious!
Congrats on the nomination and I’m really excited that a blogger I personally know is nominated! Enjoy the conference, family, friends, and home!
Stunning with the violet rice! At first I though it was black Forbidden Rice, which I love – must try this Filipino rice! Have a fabulous visit, Liren :)
Is this like suman? Coz suman is one of my fave Filipino desserts!
Ah New York, my fiance and I visited New York last year, and immediately I fell in love. It’s such a beautiful, amazing and vibrant city, and I can’t wait to return. I am sure you will have a wonderful time at the ICAP conference, and I can’t wait to hear all about your trip when you return. Congratulations on your nomination too. Very well deserved, you write beautifully and always share such delicious and inspiring recipes.
And as for your sweet coconut sticky rice, well, it looks amazing. Can I have a spoonful please!
This is one of my all time favorite desserts. The photos are making my mouth water!
This looks beautiful, I mean really beautiful, but tasty as well! Enjoy your visit!!
I love sticky rice with mango! Love it! I never knew it had to be soaked so long, so will try again. Wishing you good fortune with the award process!
Liren Congrats. Wish we could meet for a drink. If you have a chance give me a call (917) 539-8055…you are in my neck of the woods….Norma
This is so pretty with the deep colored rice! Have a wonderful trip to New York. That is one place I really want to go, but have never been. I am still trying to talk my husband in to it!
Hope you have a great trip Liren. Thanks for this recipe – my kids have been nagging me for rice pudding but this looks far more interesting.
I love this classic sweet dessert so much. Besides, you had me at #mango! Thanks for sharing! And congratulations again for being nominated! So thrilled for you! See you in a few days!