Sticky Coconut Rice and Fresh Mangoes

Ingredients

FOR THE RICE:
• 1 ¼ cups water
• 1 cup Thai long-grain sticky rice, soaked in warm water for 1 hour and drained (Adaptation note: I used California Calrose rice, a medium-grain sticky rice, and washed but didn’t bother soaking)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
FOR THE COCONUT SAUCE:
• 2/3 cups unsweetened coconut milk (Chaokoh)
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/3 cup water
TO GARNISH:
• 2 medium to large ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into slices
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, lightly toasted

Instructions

1. If you have a rice cooker, mix together the 1 ¼ cups water and 2 tablespoons sugar, and combine with the rice. While the rice cooks, prepare the coconut sauce.
2. If you do not have a rice cooker, bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Quickly stir in the rice and add the 2 tablespoons sugar. Let boil for 2 minutes, then reduce the heat to very low. Cover and simmer only until the water has evaporated and the rice is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Uncover and fluff rice with a fork or chopsticks. Set aside.
3. Prepare the coconut sauce: in the small saucepan with the coconut milk reserved from before, add the ¼ cup sugar, vanilla, and salt. Bring to a boil.
4. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and 1/3 cup water and stir until dissolved. While the coconut sauce is simmering, slowly drizzle in the cornstarch mixture and stir until sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon. Remove from heat and set aside.
5. Drizzle the coconut sauce over the rice a few tablespoons at a time to taste.
6. If you’re serving this as a dessert, place a small mound of sticky rice (about ½ cup) in the center of a serving plate and surround with mango slices. Drizzle some more coconut sauce over each mound and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Notes