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    Home » Recipes » Filipino Cuisine

    Ginataang Mais Recipe

    by Jolina | Published: December 15, 2022 | Last Updated: December 15, 2022 | 12 Comments
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    Ginataang mais is a delicious Filipino sweet rice pudding dish made of coconut milk and corn. You’ll only need 4 ingredients in this recipe and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes!

    (Looking for more sweet corn recipes? Try this creamy maja blanca — topped with shredded cheese or toasted coconut and perfect for special occasions like Christmas, fiestas and more.)

    Ginataang mais in a yellow bowl.
    Jump To hide
    Why you’ll love this recipe
    Ingredients and cooking tools
    How to make
    Expert cooking tips
    Recipe FAQs
    Other Pinoy dishes made with coconut milk
    Ginataang Mais Recipe

    Ginataang mais is a beloved Filipino sweet coconut treat, right up there with ginataang monggo (mung beans) and ginataang bilo bilo (glutinous rice balls).

    In English, ginataang mais loosely translates to coconut rice pudding with sweet corn kernels. “Ginataan” means cooked in coconut milk.

    Different families have different variations, like adding oatmeal, making it with condensed milk or evaporated milk, cooking it with langka (jackfruit), with sago pearls, and even with saba (a local banana variety).

    We stick to the traditional recipe made of sticky rice, coconut milk, sugar and corn. It’s delicious and one of the easiest treats to make. 

    Let’s get to it.

    Why you’ll love this recipe

    Freshly made ginataang mais in a blue pot.

    We cook ginataang mais year-round but when it really shines is on a cold winter day like today. A warm bowl is comfort food at its most delicious!

    You’ll love this recipe too because:

    • It only has 4 ingredients. We stick to the traditional recipe here so you’ll only need sticky or glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar and corn.
    • It uses canned corn. Speaking of corn, this recipe uses canned whole kernel corn (peaches and cream corn will work too) so you don’t have to worry about finding fresh corn and cooking it.
    • It’s ready in 30 minutes. In fact, this dish is done in less than 30 minutes! Prep time is almost non-existent too.
    • And it’s so good! Most importantly, it’s delicious. We’ve tried the instant corn pudding available these days and it tasted very artificial. This is the real deal. The way my lola makes it.

    Ingredients and cooking tools

    Ingredients for ginataang mais.

    You won’t need special tools to make this dish, just a medium-sized saucepan or pot and something to stir your mixture with (I use a wooden spoon).

    Some key things to note about the ingredients:

    • Coconut milk — make sure you’re buying coconut milk and not cream. Coconut cream is much thicker (scoop-able) and very rich.
    • Glutinous rice (malagkit, in Tagalog) — also called sticky rice and sometimes sweet rice because it has a sweeter taste than regular white rice. You can’t use white rice because it won’t result to the chewy and sticky texture glutinous rice is known for. And just a fun tidbit, despite its name, glutinous rice is actually gluten-free. The word “glutinous” here refers to the rice becoming “sticky” once cooked.
    • Canned corn — I use either whole kernel corn or peaches and cream corn whenever I make ginataang mais. The ones I get have a bit of salt in them which provides a nice balance to the sweetness of the rice pudding. You can’t use canned creamed corn in this recipe.

    How to make

    Combine rice and coconut milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook rice for another 10-12 minutes or just until the rice is almost cooked and most of the coconut milk is absorbed.

    Photo collage - rice pudding mixture in a blue pot.

    Stir in corn and sugar and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

    Photo collage - corn and sugar added to mixture.

    Remove from heat and serve warm. That’s it!

    Expert cooking tips

    Easy and simple, right? Here are more tips to keep in mind for perfect ginataang mais every time.

    • Don’t over-cook the rice. You want the rice to cook through and get a nice tender texture but be careful not to over-cook it. Otherwise, it will get too mushy. For good measure, taste throughout and cook to your preference.
    • Don’t over-reduce the mixture. We want the rice to absorb most of the coconut milk but not all of it. We don’t want the mixture to reduce too much because the rice will continue to absorb more of the milk as it cools. The photos here show the rice pudding freshly cooked. It will get thicker and creamier the longer it sits.
    • Stir often. This ensures the rice doesn’t form into clumps and stick to the bottom of the pot.
    • To serve, you have the option of topping the ginataang mais with more corn kernels or coconut milk or both.

    Recipe FAQs

    Filipino sweet coconut rice pudding in a yellow bowl.
    Can I use frozen corn instead of canned corn?


    Yes, you can use frozen corn. Thaw and drain of excess liquid before using. They may take more time to cook than canned corn so be sure to check that as well. 

    How do I store ginataang mais and how long does it last?


    You can store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge. It should last 3-5 days. To reheat, just microwave on high for 1 minute until heated through.

    How do I serve ginataang mais?


    Ginataang mais is usually served as a snack (merienda) or dessert. It’s typically served warm but is also delicious cold.

    Other Pinoy dishes made with coconut milk

    Filipinos love cooking with coconut milk. Check these out.

    • Suman Malagkit (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake Recipe)
    • Filipino Pan de Coco Recipe
    • Puto Recipe: How to Make Puto Cheese and More!
    • Filipino Cassava Cake with Macapuno

    Happy cooking!

    Did you make this Filipino sweet corn dessert? I’d love to hear all about it! Leave a comment or a star rating below. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see your creations!

    You can also find me on Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube.

    Ginataang mais in a yellow bowl.

    Ginataang Mais Recipe

    Author: Jolina
    Ginataang mais is a delicious Filipino sweet rice pudding dish made of coconut milk and corn. Only 4 ingredients and ready in less than 30 minutes!
    5 from 35 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine Filipino
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 91 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Pot

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup glutinous rice (also called sticky rice or sweet rice) rinsed then drained
    • 2 14-oz can coconut milk
    • 1 12-oz can canned corn (whole kernel or peaches and cream) drained
    • ½ cup granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Combine rice and coconut milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil (roughly 10 minutes).
    • Lower heat into a gentle simmer and cook the rice for another 10-12 minutes, or just until the rice is almost cooked. You’re looking for a little bite in it, similar to al dente pasta. Remember to stir often to make sure the rice doesn’t form into clumps and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
      Photo collage - rice pudding mixture in a blue pot.
    • Stir in corn and sugar and cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has finished cooking, and most of the coconut milk has been absorbed.
      Photo collage - corn and sugar added to mixture.
    • Remove from heat and serve warm. Optional: top with more corn and/or coconut milk.
      Freshly made ginataang mais in a blue pot.

    Video

    Notes

    1. You want the rice to cook through and get a nice tender texture but be careful not to over-cook it. Otherwise, it will get too mushy. For good measure, taste throughout and cook to your preference.
    2. We want the rice to absorb most of the coconut milk but not all of it. We don’t want the mixture to reduce too much because the rice will continue to absorb more of the milk as it cools. The photos here show the rice pudding freshly cooked. It will get thicker and creamier the longer it sits.
    3. Ginataang mais is also delicious served chilled.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 91kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 1gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.02gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 10mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 12gVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.2mg

    Nutritional information are estimates only.

    Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

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    Comments

    1. Jamie

      January 29, 2023 at 3:30 pm

      Wow! This is my favorite dish, it just brings my childhood! A classic Filipino food! It looks absolutely delicious and very enticing too! The best part, we only need 4 ingredients and less than 30 minutes to cook! Love it!

      Reply
    2. Jyoti

      January 29, 2023 at 8:18 am

      5 stars
      I made this for my mother in law whose a Filipina and she loved it. My husband as well. Easy to make recipe.

      Reply
      • Jolina

        January 30, 2023 at 10:33 am

        That’s awesome Jyoti!

        Reply
    3. Janet

      January 15, 2023 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      Haven’t made ginatan mais in years so this was a real treat. Easy and delicious. Thanks Jolina!

      Reply
      • Jolina

        January 16, 2023 at 1:23 pm

        You’re welcome, Janet!

        Reply
    4. Olive

      January 10, 2023 at 12:03 pm

      5 stars
      My mama made this all the time and didn’t realize it was very easy! Made some for my kids and they loved it. Also made your maja recipe and it was delicious too! Do you have a recipe for corn muffins like kenny rogers resto?

      Reply
      • Jolina

        January 12, 2023 at 2:30 pm

        Thanks Olive! I don’t have a recipe for Kenny Rogers-style corn muffins yet, but now I’m craving for some!

        Reply
    5. Lynndee

      January 04, 2023 at 8:17 am

      Yum! I can’t remember the last time I’ve had ginataang mais. I did have cream-style corn recently which is kind of the same. 🙂

      Reply
    6. Rose Ann Sales

      December 30, 2022 at 4:54 am

      Oh my! This is one of my kids favorite dish! I love to make this for them!

      Reply
    7. Lily

      December 27, 2022 at 9:57 am

      My DiL’s mother sometimes sends over a dish like this but I think they call it (I asked her for the spelling) “lelut mais”.

      Reply
      • Jolina

        January 03, 2023 at 9:12 am

        Yes that’s another name for it 🙂

        Reply
    8. Monica

      December 23, 2022 at 8:31 pm

      I love rice pudding but I’ve never had this version of it. I think I’d like it with the coconut milk!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Jolina! And I'm definitely a late bloomer, a thoroughly unexpected baker.

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