Easy Sticky Rice

Pour coconut milk into a large measuring cup or medium bowl. Fill empty can with water and add to coconut milk, whisking to combine. Add rice, cover, and let sit at room temperature 8–12 hours (coconut cream will rise to the top as rice soaks; whisk to combine before straining). Strain rice through a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl; reserve ¾ cup soaking liquid.

Choose a large saucepan with a lid. Spread a clean kitchen towel on a work surface and place lid in the center, handle up. Tie 4 corners of towel together on top of lid (you’ve just turned the lid into a special airtight steam absorber that prevents the rice from getting gummy). Bring rice, sugar, salt, and reserved ¾ cup soaking liquid to a simmer in saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until liquid is absorbed, 15–25 minutes—try not to lift the lid at all for the first 15 minutes. At the 15-minute mark, uncover and scrape a spoon against bottom of pan to make sure rice isn’t sticking and all liquid is gone. If there’s still liquid, replace lid and keep cooking. (Alternately, to use a rice cooker, combine rice, sugar, salt, and reserved ¾ cup soaking liquid in machine’s bowl and stir to dissolve sugar. Close lid and set cooker to “sweet rice” setting.)

Remove from heat and let sit, covered, 15 minutes. Using a fork, break up rice (it will have taken shape of bottom of pan) and separate into smaller clumps; rice will be very sticky so it will not separate into individual grains.

Divide warm rice among small bowls. Serve with mango alongside. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, then top with lime zest and a squeeze of lime juice.