Khao Neow Tad (Sticky Rice Squares)

Name: Khao Neow Tad (Sticky Rice Squares)
Yield: 1 8x8 pan
Ingredients: 1/3 cup dried black beans; 2 cups sticky rice; 1 cup coconut milk; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 cup coconut cream; pinch of salt; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon tapioca starch/tapioca flour; TOPPING SAUCE:; pinch of salt

Authentic Thai sticky rice squares with coconut cream. Soak and rinse rice, steam with a coconut topping, and serve with mango or pineapple.

This is a favorite dish my daughter and I brought back from Thailand. We were there on a food/cooking tour in March, 2006. They eat forms of sticky rice for almost every meal and snacks in between. They usually serve it with mango or other tropical fruit.

Submitted by: Kate Erd from Milwaukee, WI
Yield: 1 8x8 pan

Use glutinous sticky rice: rinse until water runs clear and soak 8 to 12 hours before steaming.
Steam the rice in an 8x8 pan, pour the coconut-based topping over it, then steam again so the sauce sets.
You can skip the black beans, garnish with toasted coconut, and use vegan sugar to keep it plant based.

Ingredients

1/3 cup dried black beans
2 cups sticky rice
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup coconut cream
pinch of salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon tapioca starch/tapioca flour
TOPPING SAUCE:
pinch of salt

Preparation Instructions:

Soak the black beans overnight in warm water to cover. Also cover the sticky rice with water and soak overnight.

The next day, drain the black beans then cover them with fresh water and simmer for 1 hour. Drain and set aside. Drain the rice and place it in a square pan 8x8x2.

Combine the coconut, milk, salt, and sugar together, stir to dissolve, and pour over the rice in the pan. Place the pan of rice in a steamer, cover and steam for 30 minutes, or until soft throughout.

While the rice is cooking, thoroughly combine all the ingredients for the topping sauce. Pour the sauce over the steamed sticky rice. Then cover the steamer and continue steaming on high heat for 5 minutes.

Uncover the steamer and sprinkle the cooked drained black beans on the surface. Cover the steamer and continue steaming for another 5 minutes.

Allow the sticky rice to cool and then cut into squares before serving.

Now this is how I changed the recipe. I didn't use the beans. Before you soak the sticky rice, you should rinse the rice with water in a fine strainer until the water runs clear or almost clear. I soaked the rice about 12 hours. For the steamer, I put water in a large roasting pan, larger than the 8x8 pan and put the 8x8 pan in it to create a steamer. To keep the 8x8 pan
off the bottom of the large pan I put pie weights in the bottom of the large pan to raise the 8x8 pan up to allow good steaming. Then, I covered the large pan with heavy duty foil. I covered the top with aluminum foil, domed on top and tight
around the edges.
I toasted some sweetened coconut in a dry fry pan to garnish the top and served with mango and pineapple chunks.

More About This Recipe

For vegan Khao Neow Tad, make sure the sugar you choose is vegan. Some white sugar is processed with bone char; look for beet sugar or evaporated cane juice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of rice should I use for Khao Neow Tad?

Use glutinous or sticky rice, sometimes labeled sweet rice. Do not use regular long-grain rice. Glutinous rice gives the chewy texture this dessert needs.

How long do I rinse and soak the sticky rice?

Rinse the rice in a fine strainer until the water runs almost clear. Then soak it 8 to 12 hours or overnight for best texture.

Can I make this without a traditional bamboo steamer?

Yes. Place the 8x8 pan inside a larger roasting pan with a shallow layer of water. Use pie weights or a rack to lift the 8x8 pan off the bottom, cover tightly with foil, and steam in the oven or on the stovetop.

What is the topping sauce and how does it set?

The topping mixes coconut cream, sugar, a pinch of salt, and tapioca starch. Pour it over the hot steamed rice, then steam a few more minutes. The tapioca starch thickens the sauce so it sets on the rice.

Do I have to use the black beans in the recipe?

No. The black beans are optional. The author omitted them and instead toasted sweetened coconut for a crunchy garnish and served the squares with mango and pineapple.

How should I store and reheat leftover sticky rice squares?

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat by steaming briefly or microwaving with a sprinkle of water to restore moisture.

How can I make this recipe vegan?

Coconut milk and cream are already plant based. To ensure the dish is vegan, choose sugar that was not processed with bone char, for example beet sugar or evaporated cane juice.

My rice is too hard or too mushy. How do I fix that?

If rice is hard, it likely needs more soaking or longer steaming. If it is mushy, you may have soaked it too long or used too much liquid. Adjust soak time and reduce added liquid or shorten steaming next time.

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