Dessert

Num Ansom – Sticky Rice Cake

Name: Num Ansom – Sticky Rice Cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 110 min
Total time: 72 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 cups Glutinous Rice; 1 cup Coconut Milk; 1/2 cup Brown Sugar; 1/2 tsp Salt; 8 Banana Leaves; 1 cup Mung Bean Paste

Num Ansom is a traditional Cambodian sticky rice cake, filled with a sweet mung bean paste and steamed in banana leaves. The glutinous rice is soaked and then mixed with coconut milk and brown sugar, absorbing the liquid before assembly. Wrapping the parcels tightly in banana leaves helps them hold their shape as they steam. After a good long steam, a cooling period is key to setting the texture, making it easier to slice these sweet treats into neat rounds.

Recipes.zone

July 22, 2026

Back1h 12mServes 4Medium

Cook mode

vegetarian vegan

13 steps · 1h 12m total

Drain Rice

Drain the soaked glutinous rice thoroughly in a fine-mesh strainer, making sure to get rid of any excess water.

Mix Coconut Milk

In a medium bowl, combine the coconut milk, palm sugar, and salt, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is uniform.

Soak Rice in Milk

Add the drained rice to the coconut milk mixture, mixing gently to coat every grain evenly. Let it sit for 15 minutes to allow the rice to absorb the liquid.

Prepare Steamer

Prepare a steamer by filling the bottom pot with about 2 inches of water and bringing it to a boil over high heat.

Lay Banana Leaf

Lay a banana leaf square flat on your work surface, shiny side up. Spoon ¼ cup of the rice mixture into the center, spreading it into a 4-inch rectangle.

Add Mung Bean Paste

Place 2 tablespoons of mung bean paste in a line down the middle of the rice rectangle.

Fold Parcel

Fold the banana leaf over the filling lengthwise, then fold in the sides to create a tight parcel. Press firmly to compact the rice; this helps it hold its shape during steaming.

Tie Parcel

Secure the parcel with kitchen twine, tying it firmly but not so tight that the rice can't expand a little as it cooks.

Assemble Remaining Parcels

Repeat steps 5–8 with the remaining ingredients until you have 8 parcels total.

Arrange Parcels

Arrange the parcels in a single layer in the steamer basket, leaving small gaps between them to allow for proper steam circulation.

Steam Parcels

Cover the steamer and steam over medium heat for 90 minutes. Check halfway through to ensure the water hasn’t boiled dry; add more hot water if needed. The parcels are done when the banana leaves turn a deep green and the rice feels firm to the touch.

Cool Parcels

Carefully remove the parcels from the steamer and let them cool for at least 20 minutes before unwrapping. This cooling time helps set the texture, making for cleaner slices.

Slice and Serve

Unwrap the banana leaves and slice each parcel into 1-inch thick rounds for serving.

Num Ansom – Sticky Rice Cake

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