Coconut Rice
Creamy & easy. This Coconut Rice side dish comes together in under 30 minutes!
Coconut is one of my favorite foods to cook with. I buy cans of full-fat coconut cream and milk and use them all week long. They make for the best dairy-free alternative in cooking. I like to mix them into my soups and scoop spoonfuls into my morning coffee, evening matcha or nightly turmeric lattes. I even add it to my smoothies for some additional creaminess.
Why am I telling you all this? Because it leads me nicely to this delicious coconut rice recipe. It’s healthy, easy and makes for the best side dish. Created from just four simple ingredients (not including the water), this rice keeps well in the refrigerator and is great to keep on hand for the more busy days of the week. It reheats easily and pairs well with a variety of dishes.
By the way, if coconut is not for you, take a peek at this simple Garlic Infused Rice or this nutritious Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice recipe.
Is Coconut Rice Healthy?
This rice recipe is clean and oh-so-easy. Made with a few simple ingredients, it is lightly seasoned and fully plant-based.
For a slightly healthier variation, you can use honey or coconut sugar instead of granulated sugar. Coconut sugar is better for you than processed white sugar due to its lower GI (essentially it has a slower impact on blood sugar levels, which can benefit people who need to manage them).
What is Jasmine Rice? Will other Types Of Rice do?
Jasmine rice is a long-grain variety of rice. It is also a form of aromatic rice, meaning that it has more scent than your typical white rice. It comes in multiple colors like black, purple, and red and is most commonly found in Thai cooking. I bet you have seen a vibrant cup of purple jasmine rice at your local Thai spot. If jasmine rice is not available, basmati is the closest substitute, but any long-grain variety will do.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 1/2 cups light coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Rinse
Prepare rice by rinsing.
Boil
Combine liquids and seasonings; bring to boil.
Simmer
Cook rice in coconut milk mixture until tender.
Fluff & Serve
Let rice steam, then fluff and serve.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
How to Make Ahead and Store
Follow the instructions to make the rice, then once complete, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When reheating, do so over low heat while stirring. The rice might get a little more dry with every day that it sits, so feel free to add a splash of coconut milk to it if needed.
Flavor the base
This recipe makes for a wonderful base as is. But for extra flavor, try mixing in cilantro and lime, turmeric and ginger, or garlic and parsley. The combo is truly up to you!
Toast Your rice
As an optional extra step, lightly toast the rice with a bit of coconut oil pre-boiling to bring out more of its natural fragrance and give it a slight crunch.
Serving Suggestions
This coconut rice recipe is creamy and dreamy. The best part: it is ready in under 30 minutes! It also goes well with just about anything you can think of, including Thai dishes such as stir-fries, curries, or grilled meat and vegetables.
The best pairing for me is with this vegan Creamy Chickpea Curry, or this Thai Pumpkin Curry. There’s also this Vegetable Curry packed with spices, perfect for a nutritious and satisfying meal. Oh-so-yum. That’s it for today. Enjoy & adios for now!
Coconut Rice
Creamy & easy. This Coconut Rice side dish comes together in under 30 minutes and is cooked just right!
Servings 4 servings
Calories 243kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice
- 1 1/2 cups light coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the light coconut milk, water, granulated sugar, and salt, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Stir in the rinsed rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes to steam the rice. Then, fluff the rice with a fork and serve.
Nutrition
Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 212mg | Potassium: 53mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.4mg
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