Introduction

Best Coconut Sticky Rice (Khao Niao Mamuang) is pure tropical heaven — perfectly chewy glutinous rice soaked in creamy, lightly salted coconut milk and served warm with ripe mango slices and a drizzle of coconut sauce. This Thai street-food legend tastes like a vacation in every sweet-salty bite. Presented in neat little mounds with golden mango fans and toasted mung beans or sesame seeds, this Best Coconut Sticky Rice recipe offers a stunning, appetising aesthetic that instantly transports you to Bangkok night markets.

Why you’ll love this recipe

90 minutes total — mostly hands-off soaking & steaming.
No fancy equipment — cheesecloth + steamer basket or rice cooker.
Make-ahead superstar — rice keeps 2 days, sauce reheats perfectly.
Naturally gluten-free & vegan — pure plant-based bliss.
Endlessly riffable — mango, durian, or sweet corn topping.

Ingredients (4–6 servings)

Sticky Rice

2 cups (400 g) Thai glutinous rice (sweet rice — do NOT substitute)
1½ cups (360 ml) full-fat coconut milk (Chaokoh or Aroy-D)
⅓ cup (70 g) granulated sugar
¾ tsp fine sea salt

Coconut Sauce

½ cup (120 ml) full-fat coconut milk
2 tbsp (25 g) granulated sugar
¼ tsp fine sea salt
1 tsp rice flour or cornstarch (thickener)

For Serving

2–3 ripe Ataúlfo or Alphonso mangoes, peeled & sliced
Toasted sesame seeds or split mung beans
Pandan leaf (optional for aroma)

Essential Tools and Equipment

Large bowl for soaking
Cheesecloth + steamer basket or metal colander
Saucepan for coconut sauce

Step-by-step process

Soak rice — rinse glutinous rice 3–4 times until water is mostly clear. Soak in cold water 4–8 hrs (overnight is fine).
Steam rice — drain soaked rice. Line steamer with cheesecloth, spread rice evenly. Steam over rapidly boiling water 25–30 min until translucent and fully tender (taste one!).
Make coconut milk mixture — while rice steams, gently heat 1½ cups coconut milk, sugar, salt just until dissolved — do not boil.
Combine — transfer hot steamed rice to a large bowl. Pour warm coconut mixture over. Stir gently → cover → let sit 20–30 min. Rice will absorb and become glossy and sticky.
Make sauce — whisk ½ cup coconut milk, sugar, salt, and rice flour in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 3–5 min until thickened to heavy-cream consistency. Cool slightly.
Serve — mound warm rice on plates, arrange mango slices beside, drizzle with sauce, sprinkle toasted sesame/mung beans.

Mistakes to avoid

Wrong rice — jasmine or regular long-grain = fail. Must be Thai glutinous/sweet rice.
Boiling coconut milk — splits and turns oily; gentle heat only.
Skipping soak — hard, crunchy rice. 4 hrs minimum.
Cold rice — sticky rice hardens when cold; re-steam 5 min to revive.
Over-stirring — breaks grains; gentle folding only.

Variations of the Best Coconut Sticky Rice

Black Sticky Rice — soak longer (8+ hrs), steam 45 min.
Durian — top with fresh durian flesh instead of mango.
Pandan — tie pandan knot in steaming water for aroma.
Savoury — skip sugar, add fried shallots + dried shrimp.
Rice Cooker — soak → drain → add coconut milk mixture → “sweet rice” setting.

Tips for better storage & make-ahead

Rice — fridge up to 2 days in an airtight container; re-steam 5–10 min with a damp cloth.
Sauce — fridge up to 1 week; reheat gently with a splash of coconut milk.
Freezer — portion rice flat → freeze → re-steam from frozen 15 min.

Frequently Asked Questions

No steamer? Use a metal colander over a pot of boiling water + a tight lid.
Less sweet? Reduce sugar to ¼ cup in rice and 1 tbsp in sauce.
Mango not ripe? Roast slices at 400°F for 10 min to sweeten.
Toasted mung beans? Dry-toast split yellow mung beans until golden.
Instant Pot? Soak → drain → 1:1 water ratio → manual 12 min + 10 min NPR.

Conclusion

Best Coconut Sticky Rice is tropical dessert perfection — each creamy, chewy bite with juicy mango and salty-sweet coconut sauce tastes like summer bottled and served warm. One bowl of soaked rice and one can of coconut milk turn your kitchen into a Thai night market in under two hours. Keep glutinous rice and coconut milk stocked, and the most addictive dessert on earth is always within reach. Whether you’re ending date night, feeding a crowd, or proving sticky rice deserves its own spotlight, this recipe delivers pure joy and paradise in perfect harmony. One bite, endless “I need this every week,” and the quiet thrill of Thai dessert mastery.