Where can I find Thai shaved ice toppings?

Look in the canned fruit and dessert aisles at Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, or other Asian grocery stores. Jackfruit, toddy palm seeds, longan, grass jelly, nata de coco, and colorful jellies are often sold canned or jarred.

Is Nam Khaeng Sai the same as Ruam Mit?

Not quite. Both can contain ice and colorful toppings, but Nam Khaeng Sai is centered around shaved ice, syrup, and selected toppings. Ruam Mit is a mixed Thai dessert typically served with sweet coconut milk and may also include crushed ice.

Do I need a shaved ice machine?

No. I use a small shaved-ice machine at home, but a powerful blender works too. Pulse the ice in short bursts until it has a fine, snowy texture and use it immediately.

Is Nam Khaeng Sai the same as Ruam Mit?

Not quite. Nam Khaeng Sai is built around shaved ice, flavored syrup, and toppings you choose. Ruam Mit is a mixed Thai dessert typically served with sweetened coconut milk and a variety of chewy toppings.

Nam Khaeng Sai (Thai Shaved Ice)

Name: Nam Khaeng Sai (Thai Shaved Ice Recipe)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 6–8 cups ice cubes; ½ cup grass jelly, cubed; ½ cup jackfruit in syrup, drained and sliced; ½ cup toddy palm seeds, drained; ½ cup coconut jelly, drained; ½ cup longan, drained; ½ cup cooked tapioca pearls, optional; 1 cup tapioca noodles (strains- see ingredient image); Red sala syrup, pandan syrup, or syrup of choice; Sweetened condensed milk

Description

Nam Khaeng Sai (น้ำแข็งไส) is Thai shaved ice topped with colorful jellies, fruit, sweet syrup, and condensed milk. Pick a few of your favorite toppings and make each bowl your own.

Ingredients

Scale

You do not need all the toppings. Choose 3–5 favorites.

6–8 cups ice cubes
½ cup grass jelly, cubed
½ cup jackfruit in syrup, drained and sliced
½ cup toddy palm seeds, drained
½ cup coconut jelly, drained
½ cup longan, drained
½ cup cooked tapioca pearls, optional
1 cup tapioca noodles (strains- see ingredient image)
Red sala syrup, pandan syrup, or syrup of choice
Sweetened condensed milk

How Much Syrup Should I Use?

Start small. For one bowl, I'd begin with approximately:

1½–2 cups shaved ice
2–4 tablespoons assorted toppings
1–2 tablespoons flavored syrup
1–2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

Then taste and add more syrup if needed. Many of the canned toppings are already packed in syrup, so the bowl can become very sweet quickly.

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare your toppings. Drain the canned fruits and jellies and cut larger pieces into bite-size portions. Prepare tapioca pearls or other toppings according to the package directions, if needed. Keep everything chilled until serving.
Shaved the ice. Use a shaved-ice machine or pulse ice cubes in a powerful blender until fine and fluffy. If using a blender, work quickly and pulse rather than continuously blending so the ice doesn't begin to melt.
Assemble. Add your chosen toppings to each bowl and pile the shaved ice over them. Drizzle generously with flavored syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Serve immediately and dig your spoon all the way to the bottom to get a little bit of everything.

Notes

Don't overthink the toppings. Three or four different textures are plenty.
Keep canned toppings in their syrup until you're ready to use them. It keeps them moist and prevents them from sticking together
Work quickly with the ice. Shaved ice melts fast, especially when made in a blenderMake a shaved-ice bar. Set the toppings and syrups out separately and let everyone build their own bowl. This is especially fun with kids.
Prepare everything except the ice ahead of time. Keep the toppings chilled, then shave the ice right before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: Thai