Thai food has been popular in America for many years, owing to delicious dishes like khao phat (fried rice), kaeng phet (red curry), and phat thai (fried noodles). But not much attention has been paid to coconut custard and other delicious Thai desserts.

That’s too bad, because anyone who has ever tasted Thai coconut custard can attest that it is incredibly delicious. And as it turns out, many of these Thai desserts are low in fat and calories. The ingredients lists are usually short and feature solely natural ingredients. Like many Thai dishes, these desserts often feature coconuts, which grow abundantly in Thailand, and mango.

Healthy Coconut Custard

Traditional Thai coconut custard is often served with black sticky rice, fresh tropical fruit like mango or banana, or inside a squash or pumpkin. This recipe is a good choice for people who are dairy free, because its made with nutritionally rich coconut milk. Simply mix 4 eggs with 1/2 cup sugar then add 1 cup fresh coconut milk. Place a ramekin onto a baking dish with 1 inch of water in it, spoon custard into the ramekin, then bake for 40 minutes on 300 degrees.

Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

This is a classic Thai dish that is simple yet exotic. Soak one cup sweet rice (also called sticky rice) in one cup of water for 30 minutes. Add 3/4 cup more water plus 1/4 can coconut milk, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and one tablespoon brown sugar and stir. Bring to a boil then cover partially with a lid and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for 20 minutes, then turn off the heat and cover tightly with the lid. In another pot, warm the remaining coconut milk with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Serve rice mounds topped with bite-sized pieces of mango and the coconut sauce.

These Thai desserts are the perfect complement to a Thai food dinner, or even just by themselves for a sweet treat. The exotic flavors and simple ingredients of these Thai dishes will have the whole family coming back for more.

Source:

• “Coconut Custard Baked in a Pumpkin”, Thai Kitchen

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