Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe

Irresistible Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe: Sweet Paradise!

Sweet, creamy Thai mango sticky rice dances between tropical indulgence and comforting tradition.

Tropical fruits bring magic to this classic dessert, redefineing simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.

Vibrant mangoes complement the rich, coconut-infused rice, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Each bite tells a story of cultural heritage and delightful sensory experiences.

Soft, glutinous rice absorbs luxurious coconut milk, developing a silky smooth consistency that melts on your tongue.

The delicate balance between sweet and creamy makes this dessert irresistibly tempting for anyone seeking a refreshing treat.

Seasonal mangoes elevate the dish with their natural sweetness and bright color, promising a memorable gastronomic journey.

Why Thai Mango Sticky Rice Is a Sweet Classic

  • Savor Sweet Tropical Harmony: This recipe blends the creamy richness of coconut with the bright, juicy sweetness of ripe mangoes, creating a perfect balance of flavors that transports your taste buds to Thailand's vibrant culinary landscape.
  • Master Easy Exotic Technique: Steaming glutinous rice might sound intimidating, but this method is surprisingly simple, letting home cooks effortlessly create an authentic dessert without complex cooking skills or specialized equipment.
  • Celebrate Textural Delight: The combination of silky-smooth coconut sauce, tender sticky rice, and fresh mango chunks offers a multi-dimensional sensory experience that plays with soft, chewy, and crisp textures in every single bite.
  • Quick Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Requiring just a few ingredients and minimal preparation time, this dessert is an excellent choice for impromptu gatherings, summer parties, or when you want to impress guests with a restaurant-quality treat that looks and tastes absolutely spectacular.

Ingredients for Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

Main Rice Components:
  • Glutinous Rice: Short, sticky rice perfect for traditional Thai desserts with a soft, chewy texture.
  • Fresh Mangoes: Ripe, sweet tropical fruit that provides a vibrant, juicy complement to the sticky rice.
Liquid and Sweetening Ingredients:
  • Coconut Milk: Rich, creamy base that adds authentic Thai flavor and helps cook the rice.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the rice and balances the coconut milk's richness.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
Finishing and Garnish Components:
  • Cornstarch: Helps thicken the coconut milk sauce for a smooth, glossy consistency.
  • Sesame Seeds: Adds a subtle nutty crunch and visual appeal to the dessert.

How to Make Traditional Mango Sticky Rice at Home

Step 1: Soak Rice Thoroughly

Place glutinous rice in cold water. Let it soak for 4-8 hours or overnight. This softens the rice and helps it cook evenly. After soaking, drain completely using a fine-mesh strainer.

Step 2: Steam Rice Perfectly

Set up a steamer or create a makeshift steaming setup. Steam rice for 20-25 minutes. Check occasionally to ensure rice becomes tender but maintains a slight chewiness. Avoid overcooking.

Step 3: Prepare Sweet Coconut Sauce

In a saucepan, combine:
  • Coconut milk
  • Sugar
  • Salt

Bring mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer. Mix cornstarch with a small amount of coconut milk, then add to the sauce. Stir continuously until sauce thickens slightly.

Step 4: Infuse Rice with Coconut Flavor

Transfer cooked rice to a large bowl. Pour half the coconut sauce over rice. Gently fold to distribute sauce evenly. Let rice rest for 15-20 minutes to absorb flavors.

Step 5: Prepare Mango Slices

Wash mangoes. Peel carefully using a sharp knife. Cut into elegant, bite-sized pieces. Choose ripe, sweet mangoes for the best taste.

Step 6: Assemble and Serve

Arrange rice on serving plates. Place mango slices artfully around or on top of rice. Drizzle remaining coconut sauce generously. Sprinkle sesame seeds for extra texture and visual appeal.

Step 7: Final Touches

Serve immediately while rice is warm and mangoes are fresh. Enjoy the delightful combination of sweet, creamy, and tropical flavors.

Tips for Perfectly Sticky Rice and Juicy Mango

  • Master Rice Soaking: Let glutinous rice soak at least 2 hours to guarantee perfectly soft, evenly cooked grains that'll melt in your mouth.
  • Steam with Precision: Use a traditional steamer or improvise with a sieve-and-pot setup, ensuring rice remains tender yet firm without becoming mushy.
  • Select Prime Mangoes: Choose ripe, fragrant mangoes that yield slightly when pressed for the most luxurious, sweet flavor profile.
  • Control Coconut Sauce Consistency: Stir continuously while thickening to prevent burning and achieve a silky, smooth sauce that beautifully coats the rice.
  • Absorb Flavor Fully: Allow rice to rest after mixing with coconut sauce, giving it time to soak up all the delicious creamy sweetness before serving.

Best Way to Store and Reheat Mango Sticky Rice

  • Refrigeration: Transfer cooled sticky rice and mango to an airtight container. Store separately to maintain texture. Consume within 1-2 days for best quality.
  • Reheating Rice: Gently steam rice in a bamboo steamer or microwave with a damp paper towel. Add a splash of coconut milk to restore moisture and prevent dryness.
  • Mango Handling: Keep fresh mango slices refrigerated separately. Add to reheated rice just before serving to preserve their vibrant flavor and crisp texture.

What Goes Well with This Thai Dessert

  • Pair with Tropical Cocktail: Mix a refreshing Thai-inspired mojito using white rum, fresh mint, lime juice, and a splash of coconut water to complement the sweet mango and creamy coconut flavors.
  • Enhance with Aromatic Tea: Brew a light jasmine or lemongrass tea to balance the richness of the sticky rice and provide a gentle, fragrant counterpoint to the dessert's sweetness.
  • Elevate with Crisp White Wine: Select a slightly sweet Riesling or Gewürztraminer with floral notes that will harmonize beautifully with the tropical mango and coconut profile.
  • Add Textural Contrast: Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes or crushed macadamia nuts on top to introduce a delightful crunch that enhances the dessert's creamy and soft textures.

Creative Mango Sticky Rice Twists to Try

  • Tropical Fusion: Replace mangoes with passion fruit or lychees for a unique flavor profile that transports your taste buds to exotic destinations.
  • Chocolate Coconut Dream: Drizzle dark chocolate sauce over the sticky rice and add cocoa nibs for a rich, indulgent version that balances sweet and creamy elements.
  • Seasonal Berry Bliss: Swap mangoes with fresh strawberries or raspberries during summer months, creating a vibrant and refreshing alternative that highlights seasonal produce.
  • Nutty Caramel Crunch: Sprinkle toasted almonds or cashews on top and add a light caramel drizzle for extra depth and textural complexity that elevates the classic dessert.
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Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe

Thai Mango Sticky Rice Recipe


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4.6 from 24 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Silky Thai mango sticky rice brings sweet coconut comfort from Southeast Asian kitchens. Rich glutinous rice paired with ripe mangoes creates a dreamy dessert you cannot resist.


Ingredients

Scale

Rice and Main Ingredients:

  • 1 cup glutinous (sweet) rice
  • 23 fresh mangoes, peeled and sliced

Liquid and Sweetener Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) coconut milk
  • ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Thickening and Garnish Ingredients:

  • ½ teaspoon cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Immerse glutinous rice in cold water for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing the grains to soften and prepare for even cooking. Longer soaking time enhances rice texture and absorption capacity.
  2. Thoroughly drain the rice, eliminating excess liquid to prevent potential waterlogging during the cooking process.
  3. Utilize a steaming apparatus – traditional bamboo steamer or improvised setup with a perforated container suspended over boiling water. Steam rice for approximately 25 minutes until grains become tender yet maintain structural integrity.
  4. While rice transforms, meticulously peel ripe mangoes and slice into elegant, uniform pieces that will complement the sticky rice’s texture.
  5. Create a luscious coconut sauce by gently heating coconut milk with sugar and a whisper of salt. Allow ingredients to meld and transform, stirring consistently to prevent scorching.
  6. Introduce cornstarch mixture to the simmering sauce, continuously whisking until the liquid develops a silky, slightly thickened consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
  7. Transfer steamed rice into a spacious mixing vessel, then integrate half the prepared coconut sauce. Allow the rice to rest and absorb the fragrant liquid, developing deeper flavor profiles.
  8. Artfully plate the infused sticky rice, surrounding or topping with vibrant mango slices. Cascade remaining coconut sauce over the composition and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds for textural contrast and visual elegance.

Notes

  • Dive into the vibrant world of Thai desserts with this mango sticky rice recipe that promises a sweet, creamy adventure.
  • Soaking glutinous rice overnight transforms ordinary grains into a luxurious, tender base that’s the heart of this classic Southeast Asian treat.
  • Perfectly ripe mangoes and silky coconut sauce create a harmonious balance of flavors that dance across your taste buds.
  • Prep Time: 2 hours
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Steaming
  • Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 20g
  • Sodium: 60mg
  • Fat: 9g
  • Saturated Fat: 8g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 54g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
Isabella Rossi

Isabella Rossi

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Liam is the voice behind many of Craft Meats’ most flavorful features. With roots in Dublin’s smoky barbecue scene and a culinary degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology, he brings time-tested cooking techniques to life. 

His training at Ballymaloe Cookery School sharpened his farm-to-table approach, giving him a deep respect for every ingredient he writes about.

He’s not about overcomplicating the process, just helping you cook meat that’s worth talking about. When he’s not writing or grilling, he’s out foraging or nerding out on regional spice blends to add to his next recipe.

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