Gluten-Free Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niaow Ma Muang)

Here is the dessert that stops newly-diagnosed coeliacs in their tracks: sticky rice, made from something the packet actually calls glutinous rice. It sounds like a trap. It is the opposite. “Glutinous” here means glue-like — sticky — and has nothing to do with gluten. It is a rice, and every rice is naturally gluten-free. So warm coconut-soaked sticky rice with ripe mango is completely, joyfully safe.

Gluten-Free Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niaow Ma Muang)

Warm coconut-soaked glutinous rice with ripe mango and toasted sesame — the classic Thai dessert. Despite the alarming name, glutinous (sticky) rice is 100% gluten-free, making this one of the safest sweets a coeliac can order or make.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 3 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 200 g sticky (glutinous) rice see notes
• 250 ml coconut milk
• 60 g sugar
• 2 ripe mangoes sliced
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds or roasted mung beans
• 0.25 tsp salt

Method

 

1. Soak & steam: Soak the sticky rice in cold water 4–6 hours (or overnight). Drain, then steam over simmering water until tender and glossy, about 20–25 minutes.
2. Make the coconut sauce: Gently heat the coconut milk with the sugar and salt until dissolved (do not boil). Pour about three-quarters over the warm rice, stir, and rest 20 minutes to drink it in. Keep the rest for serving.
3. Plate: Shape the rice into mounds, arrange the sliced mango alongside, spoon over the reserved coconut sauce and finish with the toasted sesame seeds. Best eaten fresh and slightly warm.

Notes

Coeliac notes
• "Glutinous rice" is gluten-free. The name is the biggest source of coeliac panic and the least warranted — glutinous/sticky/sweet rice is a rice variety with no gluten. Use plain sticky rice; if highly sensitive, one labelled gluten-free removes loose-bin cross-contact doubt.
• Coconut milk (tinned, unsweetened) is naturally GF; scan any "coconut dessert mix" for added thickeners.
• Toasted sesame / mung beans are naturally GF — check the pack for "may contain" if you react to traces.
• Eating out, this is one of the safest desserts on a Thai menu — just confirm nothing crunchy on top is a wheat cracker or cookie crumb.

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