Thai Mango Sticky Rice (Printable)

Sweet mango with creamy coconut-infused sticky rice in a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

# What You’ll Use:

→ Sticky Rice

01 - 1 cup glutinous (sweet) rice
02 - Water for soaking and steaming

→ Coconut Sauce

03 - 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
04 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Mango

06 - 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled and sliced

→ Garnish

07 - 2 tablespoons coconut cream (optional)
08 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds or mung beans (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Rinse the glutinous rice under cold water until clear. Soak in water for at least 4 hours or overnight.
02 - Drain the rice and steam in a cheesecloth-lined steamer basket for 25 to 30 minutes until tender.
03 - Combine coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Avoid boiling.
04 - Transfer steamed rice to a mixing bowl. Stir in three-fourths of the coconut sauce to coat rice evenly. Cover and let absorb for 10 to 15 minutes.
05 - Peel and slice the mangoes into serving portions.
06 - Plate the sticky rice and arrange mango slices alongside. Drizzle remaining coconut sauce over the top. Garnish with coconut cream and toasted sesame seeds or mung beans if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like traveling without leaving your kitchen, and somehow feels both fancy and comforting at once.
  • The contrast between creamy, warm rice and cool, silky mango never gets old, no matter how many times you make it.
  • It comes together in under an hour and impresses people in a way that feels almost unfair.
02 -
  • The rice must be glutinous rice, not jasmine or long-grain—regular rice won't absorb the sauce and you'll end up with something that tastes fine but feels completely wrong.
  • Never refrigerate this dish once it's assembled; the rice hardens and loses that dreamy, creamy texture that's the whole point.
03 -
  • If your mango is hard, peel it and slice it anyway—even slightly underripe mango benefits from the warmth and sweetness of the coconut sauce, and nobody will know.
  • The optional coconut cream drizzle is never actually optional if you want the dish to feel complete; it's the finishing touch that makes everything taste intentional.
Go Back