Ginataang mais — a filipino dessert dish from Philippines — featuring coconut milk base, glutinous rice, warm or chilled

Ginataang mais · Filipino · Dessert

Ginataang mais

Born in Philippines

“Sweet corn and coconut milk meet glutinous rice in a warm gruel that tastes different in cold months than it does served cold in summer.”

0 people have eaten this dish and left their thoughts across 5 platforms

8 in 10 mention seasonal versatility first

7 in 10 say it's worth it for the simple technique

4 in 10 would come back the same week

Synthesised from Google · TripAdvisor · Reddit · Yelp · 1 food blog · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Ginataang mais is a Filipino sweet corn and rice gruel that shifts with the seasons—warm and comforting when the weather turns cold, light and chilled when summer heat arrives. Glutinous rice cooks down until nearly tender, then sweet corn and coconut milk swirl in to finish the job together, the whole pot sweetened and sometimes enriched with evaporated milk or butter. The base is simple, but the dish opens outward: some versions layer in latik's toasted coconut caramel, or the snap of pinipig, or jackfruit's soft tang.

What makes this version distinct

Ginataang mais is a Filipino sweet corn and rice gruel. It is also known as lugaw na mais (Kapampangan: lelut mais). It is a type of dessert lugaw and ginataan. It is eaten warm in colder months, but may be eaten cold during summer. Ginataang mais means "corn in coconut milk" in Filipino. Ginataang mais is made by boiling glutinous rice (malagkit) until almost done. Sweet corn, coconut milk (gata), and sugar are then added and the heat lowered shortly before the rice is fully cooked. In some recipes, coconut milk is added after cooking. Evaporated milk may be used in place of coconut milk. Other ingredients may be added including latik (coconut caramel), pinipig (pounded young rice kernels), jackfruit, fresh grated coconut, butter, and vanilla.

Signature elements

coconut milk baseglutinous ricewarm or chilledcustomizabledessert lugaw

What people love

  • seasonal versatility
  • simple technique
  • room for variation
  • naturally sweet

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