ขนมเรไร

ขนมเรไร: Easy Thai Coconut Rice Cakes for Beginners

Introduction

ขนมเรไร (khanom re-rai) is a small, soft Thai coconut rice cake that’s perfect for home cooks and beginners. Lightly sweet, subtly fragrant with pandan or vanilla, and steamed to a delicate texture, ขนมเรไร is an approachable dessert to make in a simple kitchen. This recipe uses common pantry ingredients and clear step-by-step instructions so you can enjoy an authentic-tasting Thai snack at home.

Ingredients for ขนมเรไร

• 200 g (1 1/3 cups) rice flour
• 50 g (1/3 cup) tapioca starch (or tapioca flour)
• 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) full-fat coconut milk
• 120–150 g (1/2–3/4 cup) granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 teaspoon pandan extract or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• Green pandan juice or a drop of green food coloring (optional, for traditional color)
• Banana leaves or small heatproof cupcake liners / ramekins for steaming
• Water for steaming

Instructions to Make ขนมเรไร

1. Prepare molds and steamer: Cut banana leaves into small rounds to line molds, or grease small ramekins or cupcake liners lightly with oil. Bring a steamer of water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together rice flour, tapioca starch, sugar, and salt until evenly combined.
3. Add coconut milk and flavor: Gradually pour in the coconut milk while whisking to form a smooth batter with no lumps. Stir in pandan extract or vanilla and add pandan juice or a drop of green coloring if using. The batter should be pourable but slightly thick—similar to heavy cream.
4. Strain batter (optional): For the smoothest texture, pour the batter through a fine-mesh sieve into another bowl to remove any stubborn lumps.
5. Fill molds: Pour the batter into prepared molds, filling each about 3/4 full to allow space to set. If using banana leaves, press the leaf gently into the mold first.
6. Steam: Arrange molds in the steamer, cover, and steam over medium-high heat for 10–12 minutes for small molds (slightly longer for larger ramekins). Avoid opening the lid while steaming to maintain even heat.
7. Check doneness: The ขนมเรไร is ready when the surface looks matte rather than glossy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The texture should be soft and slightly springy.
8. Cool and unmold: Remove molds from the steamer and let cool for 5–10 minutes. If using banana leaves, the cakes should lift out easily. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Cooking Tips for ขนมเรไร

These practical tips help beginners get consistent results and understand easy adjustments:

• Texture balance: If the cake is too soft or gummy, reduce tapioca starch slightly next time; if it’s crumbly, add a tablespoon of coconut milk.
• Steaming technique: Keep steam steady but not rolling; a gentle, even steam prevents cracking and ensures the center cooks through.
• Flavor ideas: Swap pandan with 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla or a few drops of rose water for variation. Toasted grated coconut on top adds texture.
• Equipment substitute: No steamer? Use a large pot with a heatproof rack and a lid. Make sure molds are elevated above the boiling water.
• Batch size: This recipe makes about 10–12 small cakes depending on mold size. Scale ingredients proportionally for larger batches.
• Serving suggestion: Serve ขนมเรไร with a cup of jasmine tea or Thai iced tea for a classic pairing.

Nutritional Information for ขนมเรไร (Estimated)

The following nutritional values are approximate and based on the recipe yielding 12 pieces. Actual values vary by brand and portion size.

• Serving size: 1 piece (1/12 of recipe)
• Calories: ~165 kcal
• Carbohydrates: ~28 g
• Fat: ~7.5 g (mostly from coconut milk)
• Protein: ~1.5 g
• Fiber: <1 g
• Sugar: ~12–14 g (adjustable by reducing sugar)

Tip: Use light coconut milk to lower calories and fat, and reduce sugar to control carbohydrate and sugar content.

Conclusion: Enjoy Making ขนมเรไร at Home

ขนมเรไร is a delightful, beginner-friendly Thai dessert you can easily make at home with a few pantry staples and a simple steamer. Follow the step-by-step instructions, use the cooking tips to refine texture and flavor, and adjust sweetness to your taste. With practice you’ll be able to serve authentic-tasting ขนมเรไร to family and friends—soft, fragrant, and wonderfully satisfying.