Thai Sticky Rice And Mango (with Blue Sticky Rice Variation)

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Last Updated on April 1, 2022 by Chef Mireille

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Anyone who eats Thai food even if you’ve never step foot in Thailand knows about the famous dessert – Thai Sticky Rice & Mango. It is the most common Thai dessert option on most restaurant menus.

However, when I was in Thailand I discovered a different version that uses blue rice. You are probably wondering how in the heck do you make blue rice. This version is especially popular in Chiang Mai.

It starts with dried butterfly pea flower (aka blue pea flower). You first make an extract with the flowers and boiling water. This extract can then be used to create a variety of blue-hued food and beverages. You can use it as is with just a little sweetener as a beverage. However, it’s often used to make blue sticky rice.

In this sticky rice and mango recipe version, I have served it the way they do in Thailand with both the white sticky rice with mango as well as the blue sticky rice mango variation.

bowl of Thai Sticky Rice with Mango

When I went to Thailand in 2016, I had never seen or heard of butterfly pea flower. I had fallen in love with the Blue Sticky Rice I was eating at temples and restaurants, so when I saw it at Or Tor Kor Market, I purchased every package they had.

However, that has changed in the last few years. It is now very trendy to include butterfly pea flower tea in cocktails and mocktails. It is no longer that difficult to find butterfly pea flower in the United States.

You can now find the blue pea flower tea in tea shops, spice shops and other specialty markets. It’s also easily available on Amazon.

mango 2
Fancy bowls filled with the classic Thai dessert.

Recipe Notes

You can adapt the recipe from cooking the coconut sticky rice in a rice cooker and cook the rice stovetop or in an Instant pot.

There are several ways to serve Thai Mango Sticky Rice (Khao Niaow Ma Muang). You can either serve it simply by spooning the rice puddings in a bowl and then add the mango and mung beans on top. However, for a more glamorous presentation, you can layer the Thai sweet sticky rice puddings on top of one another.

Specialty Ingredients

  • Glutinous Sticky Rice – Also sold as sweet rice. This starchy short grain rice is the same used to make sushi. The starch allows the rice to easily stick together as a pudding.
  • Blue Pea Flower – Also sold as Butterfly Pea Flower, this is essentially a tea that is brewed with boiling water. Alternately, you can also purchase blue pea flower powder and follow the same process.
  • Coconut Cream – This is the thick coconut cream that rises to the top of coconut milk. You can either purchase cans of coconut cream or refrigerate a can of full fat coconut milk. Once it is chilled, spoon the cream from the top of the milk.
  • Pandan Essence – This is the main flavoring used in desserts in Southeast Asia. It comes from the leaves of the screwpine tree. If you cannot find it, you can easily substitute vanilla extract.
  • Palm Sugar – A type of brown sugar used in Southeast Asia. Substitute firmly packed brown sugar if you cannot source the palm sugar.

Now it’s time to check the pantry to make sure you have everything else you need to make the most delicious Mango Sticky Rice recipe.

Ingredients

  • blue pea flower tea
  • coconut milk
  • sticky rice
  • pandan essence
  • palm sugar
  • coconut cream
  • salt
  • yellow mung beans
  • fresh mango

How to Make Sticky Rice Mango Dessert

  • Make the white sticky rice.
  • Add the coconut cream and let it rest.
  • Make the blue sticky rice.
  • Add the coconut cream an let it rest.
  • Toast the mung beans.
  • Serve the cooked rice with the mango and toasted beans.

One of the best combinations of Thai Cuisine!

What to Serve with Thai Mango Sticky Rice

Here are a few delicious Thai Meals you can enjoy before dessert!

Thai Mango Sticky Rice in a bowl with butterfly pea flower
Butterfly Pea Flower Sticky Rice and Mango
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Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

Butterfly Pea Flower Sticky Rice and Mango Recipe – Classic Thai dessert made Chiang Mai way infused with Blue Pea Flower Tea.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Thai
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 441kcal

Ingredients

Blue Sticky Rice Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup blue pea flower tea
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup sticky rice
  • 1/4 teaspoon pandan essence
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup palm sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream

White Sticky Rice Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 cup sticky rice
  • 1/4 teaspoon pandan essence
  • a pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup palm sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut cream

Other Ingredients

  • 1 mango diced
  • 2 tablespoons mung beans

Instructions

  • Place the dried blue flowers in a bowl and cover with the boiling water. Leave for at least an hour. The longer you let it rest, the deeper the blue hue will be.
  • Drain well to extract all the liquid, passing through a sieve.
  • Rinse the rice in several changes of water until it runs clear.
  • Pour the butterfly pea flower extract into a rice cooker with the coconut milk, sticky rice, pandan and salt.
  • Cook until done.
  • Transfer cooked rice to a bowl. Add sugar and coconut cream. Stir to combine.
  • Leave to rest for 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, make the white sticky rice.
  • Combine coconut milk, rice, pandan, 1 cup water and salt in rice cooker.
  • Cook until done.
  • Transfer to a bowl. Add sugar and coconut cream. Stir to combine.
  • Leave to rest for 15 minutes.
  • In a dry skillet, roast the mung beans until golden brown.
  • Serve with mango and garnish with the mung beans.

Notes

There are several ways to serve the Blue and White Mango Sweet Rice:
  • Serve in a bowl with a spoon each of the blue sticky rice and the white sticky rice. Add sliced mango to the bowl and garnish with the mung beans.
  • Use a bowl or ramekin to mold each rice pudding. Stick them on top of each other. Add diced mango on top. Garnish with the beans.

Nutrition

Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 341mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 4mg
Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment below.Please follow me on Instagram @chefmireille or tag me #chefmireille with your pics! I’d love to share them!

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Comments

  1. Wow what an interesting twist to Thai sticky rice and mango. Love the color butterfly pea flower lends to the rice. Does it add any flavor too??

  2. Wow Mireille, what a beautiful blue coloured sticky rice. During my visit to Thailand I’ve tried several times butterfly pea flower iced tea but not a dessert using the flowers. Butterfly pea flower sticky rice and mango looks so delicious.

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