Mango sticky rice is one of Thailand’s most iconic desserts, and for good reason. It combines the creamy richness of coconut-infused sticky rice with the bright, juicy sweetness of ripe mango. Served warm or at room temperature, this dish offers a perfect balance of texture and flavor that’s both comforting and refreshing.
At first glance, mango sticky rice may seem deceptively simple. But like many traditional dishes, its charm lies in its attention to detail. The rice used is glutinous rice, often soaked and then steamed to achieve that signature chewy texture. Once cooked, it’s gently mixed with sweetened coconut milk until it absorbs the rich flavor, becoming glossy and fragrant.
The mango is just as important. Ideally, it should be perfectly ripe – soft, golden, and bursting with tropical sweetness. It’s typically sliced and fanned out next to a mound of warm sticky rice. The contrast between the cool, juicy mango and the creamy, slightly salty rice makes every bite feel indulgent yet balanced.
A drizzle of coconut sauce over the top, sometimes with a sprinkle of toasted mung beans or sesame seeds, adds another layer of flavor and crunch. The result is a dessert that satisfies both comfort food cravings and a desire for something light and fruity.
What makes mango sticky rice even more special is its cultural significance. In Thailand, it’s often enjoyed during mango season, from April to June, and can be found everywhere from street stalls to upscale restaurants. It’s a dish that feels festive yet accessible, rooted in tradition but universally loved.
Whether you’ve had it in Bangkok or are making it at home for the first time, mango sticky rice always brings a sense of joy to the table. It’s one of those desserts that doesn’t need much explanation, one spoonful says it all.
Ingredients
- 2 cups sticky rice
- 2 mango ripe
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- sesame seeds for garnish
- mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Soak the sticky rice in water for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Drain the rice and rinse it well.
- Place the rice in a steamer basket and steam for 30 minutes or until tender.
- While the rice is steaming, prepare the coconut sauce by combining coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Heat over low heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Once the rice is cooked, transfer it to a bowl and pour the coconut sauce over it. Mix well to coat the rice with the sauce.
- Cover the bowl and let the rice rest for 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Peel and slice the mangoes.
- Serve the sticky rice with the sliced mangoes on top. Garnish with sesame seeds and mint leaves.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
I’m skeptical that 1 cup sugar won’t be too much, but honestly it worked with the mango. The flavor is sweet-salty and very fragrant. Sesame + mint garnish is a nice touch.
The instructions were clear, but “sticky rice” here—like, what brand? I used glutinous rice and it turned out perfect.
I thought sticky rice was for sushi. This is unexpected. 🤨
Sticky rice is super versatile! It’s not just for sushi. Give it a try, you might love it! 😋
Quick and easy! But I don’t have sesame seeds or mint, do I need those?
Made this with my kids! They loved it. Will make again!
Why do you need to soak the rice?? Seems pointless to me.
Not sure about the 1 cup sugar part… it was very sweet for me. Next time I’ll cut it in half and maybe add extra salt.
I’m not sure about 1 cup sugar with only 1 cup coconut milk—seemed super sugary to me. Next time I’ll cut it down. Flavor was still nice though, and the mango helped.
Totally get you—1 cup sugar to 1 cup coconut milk is pretty sweet. Cutting it down (even to 1/2–3/4 cup) should still taste great, especially with ripe mango.
Instructions are a bit confusing. What do I do with the sauce after heating? Just pour it?!
Yum! Never thought I would like this mix. Family loved it!
This tastes like a real Thai dessert—sweet, creamy, and the mango is super bright. I used slightly less sugar and it still worked great.
The instructions say steam 30 minutes, but my rice needed closer to 40. So keep an eye on it—depends on the rice brand.
Good tip! I noticed the same thing—30 min was a little too fast for my brand of sticky rice. Waiting closer to 40 and checking for tenderness made a huge difference.
Mangoes are good but sticky rice is not really my thing. Gave it a try tho.
This recipe is amazing! Just like what I had in Thailand! 5 stars!
Pretty good overall, but my coconut sauce separated a bit. I think I heated it a little too fast. Next time I’ll keep it super low heat like the recipe says. Still tasted great though.
Worst advice ever—mine came out like rice pudding and not sticky rice 😭. I didn’t soak long enough though, so maybe my fault. Also I forgot mint. Still ate it all lol.
Aww I’m sorry 😭 Rice pudding texture can totally happen if it didn’t soak long enough—sticky rice needs that time to stay firm. Mint would’ve been a nice fresh touch too!
Honestly, sounds like you didn’t mess up too bad if you still ate it all lol. Next time try soaking overnight and don’t skip rinsing—also make sure you’re using *sticky* rice, not regular short-grain.
What’s with the sesame seeds? Totally unnecessary! Just give me the rice and mango. 🤷♂️
I think the sesame seeds add a nice crunch! But I guess if you don’t want them, that’s fine too. 😅
Mango sticky rice is a culinary masterpiece! Reminds me of Thailand 🇹🇭. Wouldn’t change a thing!
This is the best mango sticky rice recipe I’ve tried! So creamy and delicious.
Sticky rice? More like sticky disaster! My rice was all mushy and I didn’t even get to taste the mango!
You forgot the mango part in steps! Had to figure it out myself!
This recipe is fantastic! I love how easy it is to make. The flavors are just perfect!
Eh, it’s just sticky rice. Nothing special. Meh.
wow! best dessert.
The coconut sauce was too runny. I prefer it thicker. Maybe cook it longer?
Simple and easy recipe! Had a great time making this with the kids.
OMG, the coconut sauce is so nice! I could drink it! 😍
I totally agree! That coconut sauce is next level! 🍹
Wasn’t a fan of the coconut sauce; too sweet for my taste! 😤
Too sweet?! But that’s the point! I love that rich flavor! 😋
I get what you mean! The sauce can be really sweet. Maybe cut down on the sugar next time?
Honestly the instructions are kinda vague—like “steam 30 minutes” depends on the steamer and rice brand. I guess just keep checking?
This is the best mango sticky rice recipe ever! So easy and delicious! 😍
Wow, this tastes exactly like the Thai place near me. The coconut sauce was sweet but not cloying, and the mint + sesame made it feel fancy.
Not bad, but 2 cups of sticky rice feels like a lot for just 2 mangoes. I’d add extra mango or maybe cut the rice in half if serving two people.
I followed it pretty closely and the texture was spot on after steaming. I did reduce the sugar to about 3/4 cup because my mangoes were already super sweet.
The soaking step matters! I skipped overnight once and it was chewy. With proper soaking it turned out way better.
Easy to make but my rice came out too sticky. Maybe I soaked it too long?
Made this last night and it turned out creamy and sweet without being overpowering. The soaking step really matters—mine got tender faster once I followed it. Mango on top is the perfect finishing touch.
My aunt makes this all the time but says there’s no coconut just sugar and water. I like yours better!
So much better than the stuff they sell at the market. Way fresher! 🌟
This is a dessert? Feels more like a side dish to me, haha.
I can see how you might think that! But it’s definitely a dessert in Thailand. Give it a try!
So easy to make! I added a little lime juice and it was perfect!
The sesame seeds is just fancy for me. But this dish is yumz 🤤
I followed it exactly and the coconut sauce soaked in nicely. The 4-hour soak is key. Definitely making again for guests.
Like it! Mangoes and sticky rice are just perfect together! Gonna make again!
This is amazing. I made it for my friends and everyone asked for the recipe. Also, garnish with mint is genius—makes it feel fancy.
I tried making this but the rice didn’t stick together well. Maybe I soaked it too long? Not sure what I did wrong.
Didn’t have mango, used banana instead. Still yummy!
Pretty good, but my rice wasn’t as sticky as I expected. I think I under-steamed it a bit (30 min didn’t feel like enough for me). Still delicious though—would make again with longer steaming.
Good to hear it still tasted great! I’ve found sticky rice usually needs closer to 35–45 minutes depending on how packed the steamer is. Did you steam with the lid on tight (no steam leaks)?
Super easy to make for beginners! My kids loved it. Will make again!
Not sure about the coconut milk. I thought it was supposed to be just regular milk? 🤔
Lol, how can you even mess up sticky rice? Followed the instructions but it didn’t work for me. Sad face.
Idk, mine turned into mush. I must’ve cooked the rice wrong or something. Flavor was okay, but texture was a no for me.
This recipe is amazing! It tasted just like the ones I had in Thailand!
I can’t find sticky rice anywhere near me. Can I use regular rice instead?
This sounds complicated. Why soak rice for so long? Seems like a waste of time.
I don’t get it either, why does it takes so long? Can’t ya just cook it straight away?
Soaking the rice really helps it become tender and sticky. Trust me, it’s worth it! 🥭
I was skeptical at first, but it turned out fantastic! The coconut sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste though.
Pretty good, but my rice was a little too chewy even after steaming. I think I under-steamed or didn’t soak long enough. Still tasted great with the coconut sauce.
Good idea, but my rice stayed a bit chewy even after 30 minutes. Maybe my steamer was too weak? Sauce was still delicious.
That chewy texture usually means the rice needed more time or more steam heat. If your steamer runs weak, try 35–45 minutes and check a few grains (they should be soft all the way through). Also make sure you soaked overnight—short soaking can do this too.
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Wow! Made this for my family and they loved it! Will make again for sure. 😊
That’s awesome to hear! Mango Sticky Rice is such a treat! 🍚🥭
Mine came out kinda bland until I let it sit longer than 10 minutes. Also I ran out of mint so I used basil and… it was weird but not awful? Next time I’ll stick to the recipe.
sesame seeds and mint?? Kinda weird, but the mint freshness actually helps. Sesame was more of a crunchy bonus.
Love this dessert! But where’s the chocolate? I think it needs some.
How come you don’t cook the rice in coconut milk? Seems like a missed step.
Yummmyyyy! This is my new favorite dessert. My friends were impressed! 😋
I didn’t have sticky rice, so I used regular rice. Still tasted good! 😋
Really? Mango and rice? Sounds odd. I don’t know about this…
I found it a bit too sweet. Maybe use less sugar next time?
My friend told me to try this, I thought it was gross but I loved it!
I tried it too and was surprised at how good it was! The mangoes make it so sweet. Yum!
Mango sticky rice is a bit overly sweet for my taste. Maybe less sugar next time?🤔
I don’t have sticky rice so I used regular white rice. It turned into a sad clumpy mess, so yeah, don’t do that. The sauce is good, but the rice part matters a lot.
Yum!
This recipe is super easy and yummy! I added a bit of lime juice for an extra kick.
So easy! I didn’t have sesame seeds so I used crushed peanuts and mint—still tasted amazing.
Made it gluten-free, substituted sugar with honey. It was still great!
I’m skeptical about how “2 ripe mangoes” translates in real life. Mine were small, so I added another mango and it helped. Texture was sticky (in a good way) but 30 min steaming was a bit short for my pot.
Totally agree on the mango sizing—“2 ripe mangoes” is so vague. If mine are small I do the same and it comes out way better.
I was skeptical at first, but this turned out ok. The rice was a bit too sticky for my taste though.
This is divine! Just like I had in Thailand! 🍚🇹🇭
I tried this last night and it came out really sweet and fragrant—exactly what I wanted. The mango + coconut combo is such a perfect match. My only tweak was adding a bit more salt to balance it.
Mango and coconut is a win-win! I added a bit of lime juice for some tang, and it was so good! 🌟
Never made sticky rice before, but it turned out great! Thanks!
I tried it too, but my rice got all mushy. What did I do wrong? 🤔
So glad to hear that! Sticky rice is a game changer. 😊