3 Delicious ingredients combine into a strange yet wonderful Thai dessert that will keep you smiling! Find the recipe for Khao Tom Mad here!
We’ve finally made it to Thailand and have been enjoying the hospitality of the “Land of Smiles” for about two weeks now. Thailand truly is a lovely country with wonderful, happy people.
One thing I love about traveling is discovering different foods, especially desserts from different cultures and countries. Therefore, I felt like the timing was right to post something about traditional Thai desserts.
We’ve had the pleasure to try Khao Tom Mad recently. It is a dessert made from sticky rice, coconut milk, and bananas wrapped in banana leaves to make little pouches of deliciousness. To some, including myself, at first, I wasn’t sure such a thing sounded appetizing. Sticky rice for dessert? Hidden inside the banana leaf were contents we weren’t too sure about, but we were assured by many people it was something sweet to eat as a dessert.
I Loved This Exotic Little Dessert!
That being said, my mind was quickly changed as soon as I tried this traditional dessert. The coconut milk adds a sweetness to the rice, whereas the banana balances the sweetness out as well as adding a little natural sweetness, which makes it a desirable treat for dessert or just a snack!
We were anything but disappointed when we tried it!
Basically, it tastes like a well-balanced combination of all the ingredients. Half a banana wrapped in sweet, coconut flavored sticky rice. All of these ingredients were not only delicious together, but they balanced each other out perfectly. We were extremely pleased with this interesting dessert.
I like them best when they’re freshly made, when the Khao Tom Mad is still warm. But, it can also be kept in the fridge and then eaten as a refreshing snack. Both are great options and it tastes great both ways!
If you’re feeling adventurous, looking to try something new or looking for an exotic dessert, you can make Khao Tom Mad yourself. It’s perfect for a refreshing summer snack or dessert. Those of you who love tropical desserts or the combination or naturally sweet foods, like coconut or banana, will really get a kick out of this dessert!
Enjoy!
Khao Tom Mad – Thai Sticky Rice Cake with Banana
Ingredients
- 1 ⅔ cups sticky rice also called sweet, or glutinous rice
- 2 cups coconut cream
- ¼ cup sugar up to ½ cup for sweeter rice cakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 small bananas halved
- 8 pieces banana leaf or you can also use aluminium foil 6" x 10"
Instructions
Preparing the rice
- Rince the rice and soak in water at least 4 hours or overnight.
- After soaking, drain the rice and transfer to a non-stick pan. Stir in the coconut cream, sugar and salt.
- Heat gently on low heat while stirring with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula.
- Keep stirring over simmering heat until all of the coconut milk is absorbed and the rice is mostly tender.
- Let the rice cool while you prepare your bananas and wrappers.
Wrapping
- Put a small amount of rice on a banana leaf or piece of foil*.
- Place half a banana on top. Then cover with more rice. Wet your fingers to keep the rice from sticking to much.
- In total use about ⅓ - ½ cup cooked rice per rice cake.
- Fold up the leaf and tie securely (not necessary when using foil).
- Repeat until all bananas are used up.
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a steamer pot. Steam the little packages for 20-25 minutes in the steamer until the rice is completely soft and cooked through.
- Enjoy warm or cold.
Notes
Nutrition
Common Questions
While not identical, a Thai dessert that shares some similarities with Halo Halo, a popular Filipino dessert, is "Tab Tim Grob." This Thai dessert includes ingredients such as water chestnuts, red ruby-like water chestnut rubies, jackfruit, and coconut milk. It offers a refreshing and sweet combination, somewhat reminiscent of the flavors found in Halo Halo.
The Thai dessert wrapped in banana leaves, known as Khao Tom Mad, typically consists of sticky rice, coconut milk, and bananas. It is a unique and traditional dessert that showcases the harmonious blend of flavors from these key ingredients, creating a delightful and exotic treat for those who enjoy Thai cuisine.
One of the most famous desserts in Thailand is mango sticky rice, known as "Khao Niew Mamuang." It features sweet sticky rice paired with ripe mango slices and a drizzle of coconut milk. This delightful dessert is a popular and beloved Thai delicacy both locally and internationally.
Khao Tom, in the context of this Thai dessert, refers to a sweet and flavorful combination of sticky rice, coconut milk, and banana, usually served as a dessert or snack. It embodies the unique culinary heritage of Thailand, reflecting the country's use of local ingredients and traditional cooking methods.
Khao Tom is a traditional Thai dessert with a long history. It has been enjoyed in Thai cuisine for generations, known for its combination of sticky rice, coconut milk, and other ingredients, often wrapped in banana leaves. It has cultural significance and has been cherished as a sweet delicacy in Thai culinary traditions.
Khanom is a broad term that refers to various traditional Thai desserts. These desserts come in different forms and flavors, often showcasing the unique blend of Thai ingredients such as coconut, rice, and fruits. They are commonly made with sticky rice, coconut milk, and sugar, and can be steamed, baked, or fried.
To cook sticky rice in bamboo leaves, first soak the sticky rice in water for several hours or overnight. Then rinse the rice and drain it. Season the rice with salt and coconut milk before wrapping it in pre-soaked and softened bamboo leaves. Steam the wrapped rice for a certain duration until it's fully cooked.
Wishy
Now live in Australia and I love street food in Thailand. I try to go back there every year to visit my family.By the way I'm Thai used to live near Bangkok.
Regina
That is so cool. We spent about 10 months in Thailand when we were traveling South East Asia. It was our favorite country by far and I miss it a lot. Can't wait to go back sometime.
Wishy
They were one of my favourites snack when I used to live in Thailand. 😉
Regina
So cool, you lived in Thailand too?
I really miss awesome fresh market food from there.
Wishy
They were one of my favourited snack when I used to live in Thailand. 😉
Jacquee
My grandmother used to make a similar treat - I think it was called conki (sp?) It was a big hit among us kids!
Regina
Jacquee, I think it's so neat how fruits and dishes we get to know in SE Asia you also know from the Carribean 🙂