Khao Niao Mamuang (Thai Mango Sticky Rice)
Local name: ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง
In short: Sweet, salty coconut-soaked sticky rice with slices of ripe mango and a spoonful of thick coconut cream, Thailand's favorite dessert. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 4 h 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 615 kcal
Khao niao mamuang is the best-known Thai dessert, made when mangoes are at their ripest in the hot season. Glutinous rice is steamed, then soaked in sweetened, lightly salted coconut milk so it turns glossy and soft. It comes with sliced ripe mango and a spoonful of thicker coconut cream, often topped with crunchy toasted mung beans. Use fully ripe, sweet mangoes, because they are half the dish.
Instructions
- Drain the soaked rice. Line a steamer basket with a damp cloth or a banana leaf and spread the rice in an even layer.
- Steam over boiling water for 25 minutes, until the grains are translucent and tender. Do not let the water touch the rice.
- While the rice steams, warm the 250 ml of coconut milk with the sugar and salt for the rice, stirring until dissolved. Do not boil.
- Tip the hot rice into a bowl and pour over the sweetened coconut milk. Fold gently, cover and leave for 15 minutes, until the rice has absorbed the liquid.
- For the sauce, heat the remaining coconut milk with the sugar and salt. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and simmer for 1 minute until slightly thickened. Cool.
- Mold the rice into mounds on plates. Add sliced mango, drizzle with the sauce and sprinkle with the toasted mung beans. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
- Do not use regular jasmine rice. Only glutinous rice gives the chewy, sticky texture. Soaking it for at least 4 hours is essential for even steaming.
- Toast the mung beans in a dry pan over low heat for 5 minutes until golden and crisp. They add crunch and a nutty note.
Questions and answers
Can I make mango sticky rice ahead of time?
Make the rice and sauce up to 4 hours ahead and keep at room temperature, covered. Fridge makes the rice hard, so do not chill it.
Which mangoes are best?
Sweet, ripe, fiberless types such as honey mangoes, when they are soft and fragrant. Underripe mango will taste sour and look pale next to the rice.
Can I microwave the rice if I have no steamer?
Yes. Cover soaked rice with a little water in a covered dish and microwave in short bursts, stirring often, until translucent and tender.
How long does it take to make Khao Niao Mamuang (Thai Mango Sticky Rice)?
About 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Khao Niao Mamuang (Thai Mango Sticky Rice)?
About 615 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 107 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 615 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 107 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 55 g |
| Sodium | 450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
