This recipe offers a lighter, protein-boosted, and lower-sugar version of the traditional sweet mango sticky rice, perfectly portioned for fitness and made effortless using a rice cooker. We swap the heavy coconut cream for a blend of full-fat coconut milk and light milk (like soy or light oat), and we use a little less rice per serving while boosting the fiber with high-quality jasmine sticky rice.
Ingredients:
For the Sticky Rice:
1 cup (200g) Thai Sweet/Glutinous Rice (labeled "sticky rice" or "glutinous jasmine rice")
1 cup (240ml) water (less than typical, as the coconut milk adds a lot)
1/2 cup (120ml) full-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup (60ml) light unsweetened plant milk (like soy, oat, or skim milk)
3 tbsp coconut sugar or maple syrup (add more if you prefer it sweeter, but keep it healthy)
1/4 tsp salt
(Optional for Fitness Boost: 1/2 scoop unflavored or vanilla collagen or plant protein powder)
For the Healthy Sweetened Coconut Sauce:
1/2 cup (120ml) full-fat coconut milk (remaining from the can)
1/4 cup (60ml) light unsweetened plant milk (soy, oat)
2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp cornstarch (dissolved in 1 tbsp cold water for a slurry)
(Optional for Fitness Boost: 1/2 scoop unflavored protein powder)
For Serving:
1 large, very ripe, sweet mango (like Nam Dok Mai or Kent), sliced (see image for inspiration)
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (white and/or black), for sprinkling
Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Rice Cooker:
Thoroughly rinse the glutinous rice 3-4 times in cold water until the water runs mostly clear. This removes excess starch. Drain well.
Place the rinsed rice into the rice cooker pot.
Add the 1 cup water, 1/2 cup coconut milk, and 1/4 cup light milk. Stir to combine.
Add the coconut sugar and salt. If using protein powder, stir it in well now.
Select the "Sticky Rice" or "Sweet Rice" function on your rice cooker. If you don't have this, the "White Rice" or "Porridge" setting can work, but watch it closely. Start the cycle.
2. Make the Healthy Sweetened Coconut Sauce:
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/4 cup light milk, maple syrup, and salt.
Whisk consistently until it just starts to simmer (do not boil).
Add the cornstarch slurry and immediately whisk quickly until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth. Remove from heat.
If using protein powder, stir it in after removing from heat, whisking until no lumps remain.
3. Combine and Rest the Rice:
Once the rice cooker finishes its cycle, do not open the lid immediately. Let it sit on the "Keep Warm" setting for 10-15 minutes. This "steaming" is crucial for perfectly fluffy sticky rice.
After resting, open the lid and gently fluff the rice with the rice spatula. It should be tender, translucent, and sticky.
4. Serve and Garnish (Refer to Image):
The Rice Dome: Use a lightly-oiled small bowl or ramekin as a mold. Pack a portion of the warm sticky rice into it and invert it onto your serving plate to create the clean dome shape seen in image_1.png.
The Mango: Slice your mango thinly lengthwise. Use a large spoon to scoop out the entire half of the sliced mango and fan it beautifully onto the plate next to the rice dome, mimicking the photo.
The Pour (The Best Part): Transfer your healthy coconut sauce into a small pitcher. Pour a generous amount over the sliced mango and a small amount over the top of the sticky rice dome.
Final Sprinkling: Liberally sprinkle toasted white and/or black sesame seeds over the top, just as in image_1.png. Garnish with a sprig of mint if desired.
5. Enjoy: Serve warm or at room temperature.
Fitness & Healthy Notes:
Portion Size: Glutinous rice is very dense and filling. The recipe serves 2-3 substantial fitness-focused portions.
Lowering Sugar: You can adjust the sweetener amounts. For an even lower glycemic load, use a blend of natural monk fruit or erythritol for some of the maple syrup.
Protein Boost: Adding a scoop of unflavored or subtle vanilla collagen peptides is a great way to add amino acids without changing the texture.
Why Full-Fat Coconut Milk? This recipe uses full-fat coconut milk to give the correct traditional creaminess, but we lighten it with other milks to balance the fats. Full-fat is better for flavor and texture than using only light coconut milk.
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