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    You are here: Home | Recipes | Vegan Main Dish Recipes

    How to Make Coconut Rice

    Dec 8, 2022 by Faith VanderMolen

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learn how to make coconut rice using only 4 ingredients and minimal hands-on time! What usually is considered a side dish, this rich and creamy Coconut Rice will quickly become the star of the meal!

    coconut rice being scooped up from a pot with a wooden spoon

    Having lived in Asia for over 5 years, our family LOVES rice!

    It's comforting, satiating and pairs well with any and every veggie and protein source.

    Rice is a staple carb source that I always have on hand.

    No only does rice cook quickly, it is also able to be transformed into delicious meals such as this Creamy Chickpea and Rice Soup or this 7 Ingredient Pineapple Fried Rice.

    You can even use rice to make delicious, creamy drinks such as this Maple Syrup Sweetened Horchata!

    Or, if you want to jazz it up a little while keeping it a side dish, then you have to try out this easy coconut rice recipe!

    Let me show you how to make it!

    What is Rice?

    Before we jump into this simple recipe, let's make sure we're all on the same page regarding rice.

    Rice is a seed.

    Rice is also the most widely enjoyed staple food for over ⅓ of the world's population.

    While enjoyed all over the world, rice is especially popular in Asia and Africa.

    Types of Rice

    Considering that rice is such a popular food around the world, you could probably guess that there are a number of different types of rice.

    But did you know that there are more than 40,000 varieties of rice?!

    That's a ton of rice!

    There are three main types of rice including short, medium and long grain rice. Each of these types of rice are similar in starch content and therefore have similar cooking methods. I'll talk briefly about each category below:

    • Short Grain Rice: Short grain rice clumps together when it is cooked as it is very starchy. The most wide-spread short grain rice is sushi rice.
    • Medium Grain Rice: Medium grain rice is less starchy than short grain rice, which results in a creamier texture. A commonly used medium grain rice is arborio rice used in risotto.
    • Long Grain Rice: Containing the lowest starch content, long grain rice is fragrant and fluffier in texture. Jasmine and basmati rice are commonly used long grain rices.

    What's the difference between brown and white rice?

    Brown rice and white rice are different in how they've been processed. White rice is brown rice that has been processed so that the bran and germ layers of the rice have been removed. This also removes a lot of the fiber, vitamins and minerals.

    Brown rice has a chewier texture than white rice as well as a more nutty flavor. It takes longer to cook than white rice.

    Ingredients You'll Need to Make Coconut Rice

    the main ingredients you'll need to make coconut rice

    Making coconut rice couldn't be easier as you only need 4 ingredients in total!

    • Jasmine rice
    • Coconut milk
    • Water
    • Salt

    All of these ingredients are pantry staples for me, so it's really easy for me to make coconut rice whenever I want!

    What Type of Coconut Milk Do You Need for Coconut Rice?

    You can go one of two ways when it comes to making coconut rice.

    For a richer, creamier coconut rice, go with full-fat coconut milk from a can.

    For a lighter, but still flavorful coconut rice, choose lite coconut milk from the can.

    How to Make Coconut Rice

    Coconut rice is just as easy as regular rice to make. You just need one extra ingredient: coconut milk!

    Follow these step-by-step instructions to make coconut rice. For these instructions, I will show you how to make coconut rice using 1 cup of dry rice. You'll need two parts liquid for every 1 part rice.

    • Step 1: Choose how much dry rice you want to cook. 1 cup of dry rice turns into three cups of cooked rice.
    • Step 2: In a liquid measuring cup, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of canned coconut milk. You can use either full-fat or lite coconut milk depending on how rich you want the coconut rice to be.
    coconut milk and water mixed together in a liquid measuring cup
    • Step 3: Pour the water and coconut milk into a sauce pan and bring the liquid to a boil.
    • Step 4: Once the liquid is boiling, add in your 1 cup of dry jasmine white rice and a hearty pinch of salt. Stir everything well and allow the mixture to return to a boil.
    • Step 5: Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, place the lid on the pot and allow the rice to cook for 18 minutes.
    • Step 6: After 18 minutes, remove the lid from the pot, stir the rice to distribute any liquid that is at the top and taste it to see if the rice is cooked through. If still a little hard, allow the rice to cook a little bit longer. If cooked through, place the lid back on the pot and turn off the heat. Allow the pot to sit for about 5 minutes covered so that the rice can absorb any more liquid.
    • Step 7: Fluff the coconut rice and serve it warm with your favorite veggies and protein source.
    Creamy coconut rice being stirred in a pot

    What to Serve with Coconut Rice

    While creamy and flavorful, coconut rice pairs beautifully with so many dishes. We love to serve our coconut rice with the following items, but don't limit yourself to these pairings!

    • Any roasted veggies!
    • Any protein source!
    • Sweet and Sour Tofu
    • Easy Marinated Tofu
    • Tempeh Bacon
    • Crispy Oven Roasted Chickpeas
    • Curries
    • Dal
    • Chickpea Tikka Masala
    • Canned Beans
    • Insanely Easy Teriyaki Tempeh

    How to Store Leftover Coconut Rice

    If you happen to have leftovers of your coconut rice, don't worry! It stores beautifully and can be reheated whenever you're ready to use it. Simply allow the leftovers to cool before placing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

    To reheat coconut rice, place your desired amount on a microwave safe plate and zap it for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.

    📖 Recipe

    How to Make Coconut Rice

    Faith VanderMolen
    Learn how to make coconut rice using only 4 ingredients and minimal hands-on time! What usually is considered a side dish, this rich and creamy Coconut Rice will quickly become the star of the meal!
    4.50 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 18 minutes mins
    Additional Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 33 minutes mins
    Course Asian
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 3 cups
    Calories 409 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup dry jasmine white rice
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup canned coconut milk full-fat or lite
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions 

    • In a liquid measuring cup, combine 1 cup of water and 1 cup of canned coconut milk. You can use either full-fat or lite coconut milk depending on how rich you want the coconut rice to be.
    • Pour the water and coconut milk into a sauce pan and bring the liquid to a boil.
    • Once the liquid is boiling, add in your 1 cup of dry jasmine white rice and a hearty pinch of salt. Stir everything well and allow the mixture to return to a boil.
    • Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, place the lid on the pot and allow the rice to cook for 18 minutes.
    • After 18 minutes, remove the lid from the pot, stir the rice to distribute any liquid that is at the top and taste it to see if the rice is cooked through. If still a little hard, allow the rice to cook a little bit longer. If cooked through, place the lid back on the pot and turn off the heat. Allow the pot to sit for about 5 minutes covered so that the rice can absorb any more liquid.
    • Fluff the coconut rice and serve it warm with your favorite veggies and protein source.

    Notes

    If you happen to have leftovers of your coconut rice, don't worry! It stores beautifully and can be reheated whenever you're ready to use it. Simply allow the leftovers to cool before placing them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
    To reheat coconut rice, place your desired amount on a microwave safe plate and zap it for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 409kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 6gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 19mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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    Comments

    1. Michelle says

      January 12, 2022 at 4:25 pm

      I can't wait to try this! Have you ever made it in an instant pot? I'm wondering if the liquid ratios would stay the same or not.

      Reply
      • Faith VanderMolen says

        January 13, 2022 at 8:15 am

        Such a good questions Michelle! I've been away from my instant pot while we've been traveling in the states so I haven't thought to try cooking coconut rice in it. Please let us know if you try it and how it goes! Coconut rice is amazing...I hope you like it!

        Reply
    4.50 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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