Pakistani Mango Recipes
Mango sticky rice, a Pakistani twist
A 20-minute dessert that uses one mango to feed four.
5 min read · published 12 June 2026
Why the Thai original needs adapting
Classic Thai mango sticky rice uses Nam Dok Mai mango, clean-sweet, fibreless, modest aroma. Pakistani Chaunsa is heavier in honey-floral notes and slightly more acidic, which means the rice base needs to be calmer to let the fruit lead.
We do this by adding cardamom and a touch of cinnamon to the coconut rice, South Asian aromatics that bridge the gap between Thai dessert and Pakistani palate.
Cooking the rice
Soak 150g Thai glutinous (sticky) rice in cold water for 4 hours minimum, ideally overnight. Drain. Steam in a muslin-lined steamer or fine sieve for 20 minutes over rolling water, until translucent and tender.
Important: this is not pudding rice or basmati. Glutinous rice is the only correct rice for this dish. UK Asian grocers and Sainsbury's world food aisles both stock it.
The coconut cardamom sauce
Warm 200ml coconut milk with 60g caster sugar, 4 crushed green cardamom pods, a small cinnamon stick and ¼ tsp salt. Stir until sugar dissolves; don't boil. Reserve 3 tbsp for drizzle, pour the rest into the hot steamed rice and fold gently.
Cover and rest 10 minutes, the rice absorbs the coconut milk completely and goes glossy. Fish out the cardamom and cinnamon before serving.
Plating with Chaunsa
Peel 1 large ripe Chaunsa, slice into 1cm-thick cheeks. Mound the rice on a plate, fan the mango alongside, drizzle with the reserved coconut sauce and finish with toasted sesame seeds and a single mint leaf.
Eat warm or room temperature, never chilled. Cold rice goes hard and the dish loses its silk.
Frequently asked
- Can I use basmati if I don't have glutinous rice?
- No. Basmati is non-starchy long-grain, it won't bind into the chewy clump this dish requires. Buy the right rice.
- Is this gluten-free?
- Yes, despite the name 'glutinous'. The 'gluten' refers to the sticky starch, not wheat gluten. Safe for coeliacs.
- Can I freeze leftovers?
- Yes, freeze rice and mango separately. Reheat the rice with a splash of coconut milk in the microwave; slice fresh mango when serving.
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