Food & Receipts

The Perfect Pitaya: Crafting a Delicious and Visually Appealing Pink Dragon Fruit Sticky Rice

Dragon fruit sticky rice is a unique and eye-catching dish with its vibrant pink color. Learn how to make this delicious and aesthetically pleasing treat with our step-by-step guide, shared right here in this article!

Administrator

16 July, 2024

102

Preparation
20 minutes Cooking
60 minutes Serves
3-4 people

Sticky rice with dragon fruit is a simple yet delicious dish to prepare. With sticky rice and dragon fruit as the main ingredients, this recipe will guide you through the steps to create a mouth-watering dragon fruit sticky rice dish at home.

1Ingredients for Dragon Fruit Sticky Rice

1kg sticky rice
300gr mung beans
700g dragon fruit
400ml coconut milk
1 bunch of pandan leaves
Seasonings: salt, sugar, cooking oil

Dragon Fruit Sticky Rice Ingredients

Tip: When choosing sticky rice for this dish, consider the following:
– Opt for large, round, and glossy grains that are slightly opaque in color. Avoid broken or discolored grains.
– The best sticky rice for this dish will have a thin, silky husk that feels slightly waxy. It should also have a subtle, natural fragrance.

2How to Make Dragon Fruit Sticky Rice

Step 1 Soak the Sticky Rice and Mung Beans

Begin by soaking the sticky rice and mung beans in clean water for approximately 4-5 hours to soften them and reduce cooking time. For the mung beans, you can add a small amount of turmeric powder to impart a beautiful yellow color.

After soaking, rinse the rice and beans with clean water a few times and drain them.

Preparing the Ingredients

Step 2 Cook the Sticky Rice

In a large bowl, combine the sticky rice with 1.5 teaspoons of salt and 200ml of coconut milk and mix well.

Transfer the rice to a steamer and cook for about 30 minutes. Then, open the lid and fluff the rice. Add a bunch of pandan leaves to the water in the steamer and continue steaming for another 15 minutes until the rice is cooked.

Cooking the Sticky Rice

Step 3 Prepare the Mung Bean Filling

In a pot, combine 300g of mung beans, 200ml of coconut milk, 300ml of water, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and continue cooking until the beans are soft.

Once the beans are soft and there is still some liquid left, mash the beans directly in the pot. Then, add 50g of cooking oil and 150g of sugar and stir continuously until the bean paste becomes soft and sticky.

Preparing the Mung Bean Filling

Step 4 Cook the Dragon Fruit

Scoop out the dragon fruit flesh into a strainer and use a spoon to press it through the strainer to obtain dragon fruit juice.

Add 70g of sugar to the dragon fruit juice and cook over low heat until it reaches a gentle boil. Then, turn off the heat.

Cooking the Dragon Fruit

Step 5 Mix the Sticky Rice with Dragon Fruit

Remove the pot of sticky rice from the heat and fluff the rice again. Gradually add spoonfuls of the dragon fruit juice to the rice and mix well with your hands. Be careful as the rice will still be hot!

Mixing the Sticky Rice with Dragon Fruit

Step 6 Mold the Dragon Fruit Sticky Rice

Grease a mold with cooking oil to prevent the rice from sticking. Then, alternately layer the mung bean filling and sticky rice in the mold, pressing down firmly. Finally, unmold the rice onto a serving plate.

Molding the Dragon Fruit Sticky Rice

Step 7 Final Product

The dragon fruit sticky rice will have a gentle pink hue and a delightful aroma when it’s ready to serve. It will also retain its color for a long time.

Final Product

3Serving Suggestions

Dragon fruit sticky rice has a subtle sweetness from the dragon fruit, complemented by the creamy texture of the sticky rice. The combination creates a harmonious and appealing dish. The fragrance of the dragon fruit blends beautifully with the pandan leaves, resulting in a unique and memorable flavor profile.

Serving Suggestion

Dragon fruit sticky rice is a simple yet delectable dish that is easy to prepare. Impress your family and friends by following this recipe and creating a delightful treat!

Source: Mom’s Best Food

Frequently asked questions

Pitaya, also known as dragon fruit, is a tropical fruit native to Central and South America. It has become increasingly popular in Asian cuisine due to its unique flavor, vibrant color, and nutritional benefits. The pink-fleshed pitaya is especially sought-after for its eye-catching color and sweet taste.

When selecting pitaya for this recipe, look for fruit with bright, vibrant pink skin and no signs of bruising or damage. The fruit should be slightly soft to the touch but not mushy. Ripe pitaya will also have a pleasant, sweet aroma.

Glutinous rice, also known as sticky rice, is a type of short-grain rice that becomes sticky and chewy when cooked. It is a staple in many Asian dishes and is particularly well-suited for this recipe as it creates a delicious contrast in texture and flavor when paired with the sweet and creamy pitaya.

While regular rice can be used as a substitute, the dish will have a significantly different texture and taste. Glutinous rice is specifically chosen for this recipe to create a sticky and glutinous consistency that complements the pitaya.

The recommended method is to use a rice cooker specifically designed for cooking glutinous rice. Alternatively, you can cook it on the stovetop by bringing the rice and water to a boil, reducing the heat to low, and simmering covered until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

The natural pink color of the pitaya will lend its hue to the dish. Simply blend the pitaya flesh with a small amount of water to create a pink pitaya puree, which can then be mixed with the cooked glutinous rice to achieve the desired color.

Absolutely! You can experiment with adding ingredients such as coconut milk, palm sugar, or a dash of salt to enhance the sweetness or add a savory touch. You can also top the dish with fresh mint leaves or sliced almonds for a crunchy texture and extra flavor.

This dish is typically served as a sweet treat or dessert. It can be enjoyed on its own or paired with other Asian desserts such as mango sticky rice or green tea ice cream. For a more indulgent option, you could also serve it with a drizzle of condensed milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.