Nga Pyaw Thee Shwe Gye (Burmese Banana and Coconut Sticky Rice Pudding)

This traditional Burmese dessert is both humble and deeply satisfying — the kind of sweet that feels as nourishing as it is indulgent. Mashed ripe bananas are folded into glutinous rice with rich coconut milk and a touch of jaggery, then steamed until it sets into a dense, chewy pudding. The result is somewhere between a bar and a cake, with a natural sweetness from the bananas and an earthy caramel depth from the jaggery.

What I love most about Nga Pyaw Thee Shwe Gye is its balance: not too sugary, but still lush. The sticky rice gives it a comforting bite, while the coconut milk keeps it creamy. Each piece feels hearty, almost like a tropical rice brownie, yet light enough to enjoy at the end of a meal.

Health-wise, it’s also a beauty: bananas bring potassium for heart and muscle support, coconut milk adds healthy fats for lasting energy, and jaggery (if used) offers trace minerals like iron and magnesium. It’s a dessert that doesn’t just taste good — it feels good.