Mango sticky rice is a dessert that is prepared by cooking sweetened glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar and dried pandan leaves together. Unlike normal sticky rice, mango sticky rice is steamed in a coconut milk-based broth, which makes it extremely smooth, rich, and sweet. This dessert is eaten all year round but especially during special occasions or festivals like Songkran Thai New Year and Buddhist holiday celebrations.
You can make mango sticky rice at home easily by following our step-by-step instructions below. You can serve mango sticky rice with ice cream, fresh mango puree, or coconut sauce as toppings. Just keep in mind that it’s best eaten freshly made, so it’s a good idea to make it on the day you want to serve it.
Read on for more information and check out our step-by-step instructions on how to make mango sticky rice at home. Mango sticky rice is one of the most popular desserts in Thailand and known locally as ‘khao niew ma muang’ in Thai cuisine.
Mango Sticky Rice Is The Ultimate Thai Treat
If you’re a fan of Thai cuisine, then you must have heard of the famous Thai dessert called Mango Sticky Rice. In order to enjoy this sweet treat, you need to make your own mango sticky rice at home. And trust me when I say that homemade mango sticky rice is way better than the original.
This addictive dessert is made with sweetened glutinous rice (sticky or sweet rice), coconut milk, sugar, dried pandan leaves, and diced ripe mangoes. The sweetness from the sticky rice balances wonderfully with the tartness from the crushed dried red chillies and lime juice that finish it off perfectly. It’s often served with ice cream or creamy coconut sauce as toppings.
If you’re wondering what makes homemade mango sticky rice so much better than its store-bought version, here are some of its secrets:
How To Make Mango Sticky Rice At Home
Turning the regular sticky rice into mango sticky rice at home is easy. All you need to do is follow these 3 simple steps:
Step 1 – Soak the Rice First wash the rice, drain and place the rice in a bowl and pour enough water to cover the rice completely. Cover the bowl with a lid or wrap with a damp cloth and let the rice soak for at-least 6-8 hours or overnight.
Step 2 – Rinse and Drain the Rice Next After soaking the rice, rinse it well under running water. Drain the excess water from the rice and keep it in a mixing bowl.
Step 3 – Steam the Rice Next Now, steam the rice with coconut milk broth until it gets soft and fluffy and the grains are separated. It takes about 15-20 minutes for the rice to be fully cooked. While steaming the rice, keep an eye on it and keep stirring occasionally so that the rice does not stick to the bottom of the pot.
Easy Tips For The Perfect Mango Sticky Rice
The best mango sticky rice recipe is one that is made with fresh mangoes. If you can’t find fresh mangoes, then you can use mangoes that are in ripe condition. But make sure they are fully ripe and sweet enough to result in the best mango sticky rice.
You can use any kind of ripe mango for mango sticky rice, but for the best results, you should use a sweet and juicy mango. – Steaming the rice is the best method for making red ripe mango sticky rice.
You can add dried black beans to the mango sticky rice recipe to make it more nutritious.
If possible, try to use non-hydrogenated coconut milk in the recipe as it has less saturated fat than other types of coconut milk.
If you’re making mango sticky rice for the first time, then you should try using brown rice instead of sticky rice.
You can also add dried shrimp to the mango sticky rice recipe.
You can add pandan leaves to the mango sticky rice recipe to make it more flavourful.
Instead of using regular sugar, you can use brown sugar or turbinado sugar.
You can garnish the mango sticky rice with fresh coconut and cashew nuts too.
Last but not least, store mango sticky rice in an airtight container so that it stays nice and soft for longer.
Pros Of Making Mango Sticky Rice At Home
You can make your own mango sticky rice at home and use only fresh ripe mangoes for this recipe. You don’t need to buy pre-cut mangoes from the store.
You can make your own mango sticky rice at home with non-hydrogenated coconut milk for better health. –
You can make mango sticky rice at home with a range of different types of mangoes for better flavour.
Mango sticky rice at home tastes better than the store-bought variety as it doesn’t require preservatives.
Making mango sticky rice at home is super easy and requires minimal effort.
Mango sticky rice is easy to make on weeknights when you don’t want to cook.
You can serve your family with fresh mango sticky rice.
Mango sticky rice is a great way to introduce your kids to the delicious world of Thai cuisine.
You can also use the leftover mango sticky rice in the next few days.
Cons Of Making Mango Sticky Rice At Home
You need to soak the rice for at-least 6-8 hours before making the mango sticky rice.
You need to steam the rice with coconut milk broth for 20-25 minutes before it’s ready.
The mango sticky rice is not as sweet when made with regular sugar.
You need to chop the mangoes and press them to obtain extra juice for the mango sticky rice to be of the best quality.
You need to cool the mango sticky rice down so that it remains soft for longer.
The homemade mango sticky rice will last for only 2-3 days if made fresh.
It’s best to make the mango sticky rice fresh as it requires a lot of effort and will definitely be better if made fresh.
The Right Tools For Sticky Rice Cooking
Long-stemmed whisk – To mix the rice well and obtain a smooth and fluffy sticky rice, it’s important to use a long-stemmed whisk. Always whisk the rice before you steam it to make sure that it’s mixed well and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
Pot – You need a pot for steaming sticky rice as well as one for boiling rice. Always use a pot with a tight-fitting lid for steaming the rice and a pot that’s deep enough for the rice to cook properly.
Rice cooker – If you don’t have a pot or an electric rice cooker for steaming, you can also steam the rice in a rice cooker. Just follow the manufacturer’s instructions or recipe and make sure that the rice is fully cooked before serving.
Sticky rice – The best sticky rice for steaming is freshly harvested rice that’s been stored in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also use rice that’s been kept in the pantry for a few days, but it should be kept in an airtight container.
Salt – You need to add salt to the mango sticky rice recipe to bring out the flavour of the rice better. Always use a salt that’s suitable for steaming, such as Himalayan pink salt or plus.
Store bought mango sticky rice isn’t vegan or gluten-free
The mango sticky rice that you find in the store is usually made from regular sticky rice, dried mango pieces, and coconut milk. However, making it at home from fresh mangoes and non-hydrogenated coconut milk will definitely make a difference in the taste of the dessert. So, make sure you use the freshest mangoes for the best results.
Tips For Perfect Mango Sticky Rice
The fresh taste of the mango puree makes this mango sticky rice recipe a must try. If you want to get the best results, then you need to follow these few tips.
The Right Rice Soaking Water – As mentioned above, the right water will have the sticky rice ready to go. The water needs to be seasoned with a little salt, but not too much. This will help in getting the correct texture of the sticky rice.
The Right Rice Cooking Temperature – The right cooking temperature for the rice is important, and it should be medium or medium-high. You don’t want the rice to be too soft or too hard, which will result in a sticky rice that is either too chewy or too crunchy.
Why Are Mango Sticky Rice And Sticky Rice So Popular
The popularity of mango sticky rice and sticky rice is because it’s so easy to make and it tastes great. Also, let’s not forget that it’s low in calories and gluten-free. Apart from that, mango sticky rice is also rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals, making it a great dessert option for everyone.
Moreover, let’s not forget that mango sticky rice is a great option for those who are on a diet and are looking for a dessert that’s gluten-free and can be eaten without guilt. Mango sticky rice has a very mild flavour, so you can pair it with many different flavours and can also add different toppings depending on your tastes and preferences.
Fresh Mango Puree For The Best Mango Sticky Rice
The best mango sticky rice is made with fresh mango puree. It’s not possible to make the mango sticky rice from the store at home because the mangoes in the market are always ripe. You can, however, steam and puree fresh mangoes at home. Depending on the ripeness of the mangoes, you can steam the mangoes for 5 to 10 minutes.
After steaming, you can use the mango puree in mango sticky rice. You can also make mango sticky rice using mango pulp. However, using fresh mango puree makes the sticky rice more appealing and delicious.
Sticky Sweetness From Sugar And Pandan Leaves
The sweet taste of the sticky rice is achieved by adding sugar and pandan leaves. Another ingredient that contributes to the sticky sweetness is coconut sugar, which is made from grating unrefined sugar cane and coconut. The sugar cane is soaked in water and drained before grating.
The grated sugar cane is then combined with fresh coconut milk and allowed to ferment for about a week to get coconut sugar. The fermented coconut sugar is then combined with fresh pandan leaves or pandanus leaf extract and allowed to ferment for about a week.
This process is called germination and it imparts a distinct pandan flavour to the mango sticky rice.