Khmer Glutinous Rice Mung Bean Dessert

The Khmer Glutinous Rice Mung Bean Dessert is a popular and cherished sweet treat in Khmer cuisine. It involves several steps, but the results are well worth the effort. It’s advised to adjust the quantities if preparing for fewer people.

The coconut sauce that accompanies the dessert is made by combining coconut cream, water, white sugar, brown sugar, and a touch of salt. Fresh ginger is thinly sliced and added for an aromatic touch. The mixture is gently simmered to infuse the flavors, creating a rich and flavorful sauce. Once done, it’s set aside to cool.

For the filling, yellow Mung beans are soaked in warm water for two hours, then washed and steamed until soft. After cooling, the beans are mashed with a bit of sugar and salt to form a paste. This paste is then rolled into small balls.

The dough is made using glutinous rice powder mixed with water. The dough is kneaded until smooth. Each ball of dough is flattened in the palm of the hand, and a ball of the Mung bean filling is placed inside. The dough is then rolled into a round ball, and the process is repeated for the remaining dough and filling.

To cook the dough, a large pot of water is brought to a boil. The balls are dropped in and cooked until they float to the top, then boiled for an additional five minutes to ensure the glutinous rice is fully cooked. They are then transferred to a cold bath before being added to the coconut sauce.

When ready to serve, sesame seeds are added for a nutty crunch. The traditional way involves pounding sesame seeds with a bit of salt for added flavor. Additionally, a teaspoon of warm coconut cream is drizzled on top. An alternative serving method is to place a few pieces of cooked dough in a bowl and spoon the sauce over them.

This dessert is best enjoyed slightly warm to maintain the coconut’s flavor. The sweetness can be adjusted to personal preference. Overall, this Khmer Glutinous Rice Mung Bean Dessert is a labor of love that yields a delectable and satisfying sweet treat.

Coconut sauce for the glutinous rice dough

For the filling

1. 1 package (260 gram) of yellow Mung bean (buy the yellow bean ready to use no skin) Soak the beans for 2 hours in warm water
2. After 2 hours wash the mung bean for few times drain then steam the mung bean in a steamer until soft.
3. Let it cool then add ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar mash it to paste.
4. Take one tablespoon of mung bean paste roll it to a ball and set aside. Repeat the remaining of the paste

For the dough

1. You need 16oz (260 gram) glutinous rice powder mix with 2 1/2 cups of water. Do add water little by little in case the dough is too thin. Mix the dough well then knead the dough until smooth. Take about 1 T out then roll it to a ball and flat it in the palm of your hand, now take out one roll of bean paste and cover it with the white
2. dough and roll it to a round ball, set aside. Repeat the remaining dough and mung bean filling until all gone. If you like you can flat the dough a bit before boiling them so it is easy to eat.
3. To cook the dough bring a big pot of water to a boil when the water is boiling drop few white dough’s with filling inside cook until the dough float to the top from that point you need to boil 5 more minutes so the glutinous rice will cook completely. Take the dough out and put them in a cold bath water let it sit for few minutes then you can add to the coconut sauce.

Directions to make Khmer Glutinous Rice Mung Bean Dessert

1. Boil one can of coconut cream and 1 can of water (use the coconut can to measure the water)with 1 cup of white sugar and ½ cup of brown sugar, ¼ t of salt and 1 T of thinly sliced fresh ginger on low heat. This is kind of simmering the sauce until it is hot and the ginger flavor come out. Let the sauce cool down.
2. When the dough is cool down add them to the coconut sauce pan, when ready to serve add sesame seeds to it. My mom always pounds the sesame seeds (in mortar pestle) with a bit of salt to give flavor to the dessert and drizzle 1 t spoon of warm coconut cream on the top.
3. Another way to serve this dessert is to take few pieces of cooked dough and add few spoonful of sauce on it instead of put them in the sauce, either way will work.
4. This kind of dessert is best to serve a bit warm so the coconut won’t taste bad.
5. Do adjust to your taste more sweet or less sweet up to you.

Thank you and enjoy it.

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