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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Mar 22, 2022(updated Jun 20, 2022)

The Best Coconut Rice

2.67 from 3 votes

2 Comments

by Becca Du

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
coconut rice

I did have a bunch of other recipes I wanted to do this month, but it didn’t seem right to do elaborate recipes while people are stuck with the stuff in their pantry. Going on grocery runs this month is like going to dim sum in an Asian community on Sunday morning. Just straight up crazy. A lot of things are sold out. There are long lines. People are everywhere. One of the first things that are selling out at the grocery stores right now is rice. And it’s easy to understand why. It’s a pantry staple, and it has a long shelf life. But in general, rice has no flavor. It usually takes on the flavor of something else you pair with it. So I wanted to show you how to make it a little bit more flavorful. That’s where this coconut rice recipe comes in.

uncooked rice

Where does coconut rice come from?

Coconut rice is a staple dish of Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, India, Indonesia, and India. That is the coconut rice I know. The first time I ever had coconut rice was here in SF at a restaurant called Farmhouse Kitchen. While it sounds like an American brunch place, it’s actually one of the best and most traditional Thai restaurants in the Bay Area. Their version of coconut rice is one of the best I have every had. There is also a version that comes from Latin America – arroz con coco. The cooking method is very similar to their Asian counterpart, but sometimes, they add raisins.

ingredients

Ingredients

You only need 5 ingredients for this dish, all you can probably find in your pantry.

  • Jasmine rice – Jasmine rice is the type of rice that results in the best coconut rice. However, you can use any type of long grain rice. I have tried making it with medium grain rice,  and it still tastes good!
  • Coconut oil – Toasting the rice grains before cooking them locks in the flavor of the rice and gives it a slight coconut flavor. If you don’t have coconut oil on hand, feel free to substitute with butter or any type of oil you have.
  • Water – Distilled water works well for this recipe.
  • Coconut milk – This is where the rice gets most of its coconut flavor. I would use a full fat coconut milk to get the best flavor.
  • Salt – Brings out the flavor of the coconut rice. Any kind of salt should work.
uncooked rice

Making my coconut rice recipe

This dish should take you about 30 minutes to make and goes with almost anything. First rinse your rice until the water runs clear. Next toast the rice in coconut oil for 1-2 minutes in a medium-sized pan. Add in the water, coconut milk, and salt. Stir and bring the liquid to a boil. Once boiling, bring it down to a simmer. Let it simmer for 20-30 minutes covered. The rice should be done once the rice grains are cooked through and the liquid has evaporated. Optional: squeeze some lime juice over the rice. Serve and enjoy!

Below are recipes you can eat with coconut rice.

  1. Spicy Lemongrass Shrimp
  2. Thai Red Curry with Salmon
  3. Five Spice Chicken
  4. Burmese Chicken Curry
spicy lemongrass shrimp
thai red curry with salmon

Tips on how to make the perfect coconut rice

  1. Use long grain jasmine rice for the best results – I would highly recommend using long grain jasmine rice to make this dish because it yields the best results. As mentioned, I’ve made this with Nishiki medium grain rice, and while it was good, it didn’t have the best texture.
  2. Rinse your rice – The key to making any kind of good rice is to rinse it before cooking it. Rinsing it removes starch from the surface of the rice which can make it gummy when you cook it. It also allows it to absorb some water during this process which helps cook it evenly.
  3. What happens if I add too little or too much liquid? – Sometimes when you are cooking the rice, it can look a little soupy or too dry. I have definitely had both of these issues before. Here is what I do in both situations. If you added too much liquid, I would remove the lid so more water can evaporate as the rice cooks. If you added too little liquid, I would add more water.
coconut rice

Did you make this Coconut Rice?

If you made this dish, I would love to see!

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coconut rice

Coconut Rice

Becca Du
This coconut rice recipe is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine. It is made with jasmine rice, coconut milk, and coconut oil.
2.67 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 people
Calories 273 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 2/3 cup coconut milk
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
  • Toast the rice in a medium-sized pan with coconut oil for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add in the water, coconut milk, and salt. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer.
  • Simmer with the pan covered for 20-30 minutes until rice is cooked through and the liquid has evaporated.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 4gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 155mgPotassium: 136mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 2mg
Keyword coconut rice, coconut rice recipe
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Comments

  1. Manu says

    April 13, 2020 at 3:20 am

    Hey Becca,
    I was wondering if it’s possible to do this recipe with a rice cooker. Usually with a rice cooker, for jasmine rice, you have to put one cup of water for one cup of rice. Would it be the same for coconut rice? Should i put a bit more liquide than usual? Thanks for your tips 🙂

    Reply
    • Becca says

      April 13, 2020 at 9:05 am

      Hi Manu,

      I have not tried this recipe in a rice cooker, but I think using the same amount of liquid specified in the recipe should work. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply

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About Me


Hello I'm Becca! I believe any day can be made better with a bowl of noodle soup. Here you will find recipes from my Chinese/Vietnamese heritage and stories from my experience living here in beautiful LA. Grab a drink and stay awhile! Read More

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