Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

This Mango Sticky Rice Dessert (Khao Niaow Ma Muang) is a classic Thai dessert and SO very scrumptious. Be sure to get the right rice for this dessert - regular (savory) rice will not work; you need sweet rice (see link in ingredients list). The sticky rice can either be steamed, as they do in Thailand (a colander can be used for this), or you can make it in a pot on your stove (instructions included). Place some fresh mango slices over the sicky rice, then smother with the easy coconut sauce - pure heaven! If you like mangos and/or sticky rice, you're going to love this very simple but exotic Thai dessert.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:


    1 cup Thai Sweet Rice (also called 'sticky rice' OR 'glutinous rice', available at Asian food stores
    1-2 ripe mangos, cut into bite-size pieces (for more on mangos, see below)
    4-5 Tbsp. palm sugar OR brown sugar
    1/4 tsp. salt
    1 can good-quality (thick) coconut milk
    water (for boiling or steaming the rice)


Preparation:

1.Soak the rice in 1 cup water for 20-30 minutes, OR up to 4 hours.

2.Do not drain the rice. Simply add 3/4 cup (more) water, plus 1/4 can coconut milk, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1 Tbsp. brown sugar. Stir this into the rice.

3.Bring to a gentle boil, then partially cover with a lid (leaving some room for steam to escape). Reduce heat to medium-low (#2.5 on the dial).

4.Simmer in this way for 20 minutes, or until the coconut-water has been absorbed by the rice. Turn off the heat, but leave the pot on the burner with the lid on tight. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. (For step-by-step instructions (with pictures) on how to do this, see my: How to Cook Sticky Rice.)

5.To make the sauce, warm (do not boil) the rest of the can of coconut milk over medium-low heat (5 minutes). Add 3 Tbsp. sugar, stirring to dissolve.

6.Taste-test the sauce for sweetness, adding more sugar if desired. (note that it will taste less sweet when added to the rice).

7.To assemble, place a few 'mounds' of sticky rice in each serving bowl. Top with slices of teh mango, then pour sauce over. It should look like an English pudding with custard sauce, with the mounds of rice swimming in sauce.

OR, here's another method that results in even more coconut-ty flavor (optional): Add scoops of rice (portion out 1 scoop per person) directly to the sauce pot and stir over low heat, gently breaking apart large lumps, but leaving smaller lumps/chunks). Now add the mango pieces and gently stir until everything is warmed through. Portion out into serving bowls, making sure everyone has equal amounts of rice, mango, and plenty of sauce