Coconut Rice is a fragrant and flavorful Rice recipe. Jasmine Rice is cooked in Coconut Milk along with sugar and salt. This is steamed and then tempered with few cashew nuts, black mustard seeds, curry leaves, and dried red chilis.

There's something so comforting and relaxing about enjoying a humble bowl of Coconut rice to yourself with your favorite curry. I just love Coconut Rice. It lifts the taste of any curry ten folds.

Curry nights in my home are marked with Coconut Rice along it. We are not huge on Naan Bread, but we like roti or Coconut Rice. It's simple, hearty and so comforting.

Even if we have just a small helping of it, but it's still worth serving with your favorite curry. In my family, this is a small tradition we follow and we soo love it!

Before you go down to read about Coconut Rice, read these recipes if you haven't already

Thai Red Coconut Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice

Jeera Rice Recipe- Indian Cumin Rice Recipe

Curd Rice Recipe 

Thai Lemongrass Coconut Fried Rice With Zucchini

The Origin of Coconut Rice

Coconut Rice is the most flavorful and fragrant rice recipe ever. This rice recipe has its origin in Indian and Asian cuisine and there are so many different ways to make Coconut Rice. You can also find references of Coconut Rice in Caribbean Cuisine or Hawaiian Cuisine.

Basically, this is a Tropical Rice recipe. Its been made for ages along the coastal regions of the world and today it has got a lot of exposure due to its hearty and tropical flavors which we love.

What makes Coconut Rice taste so awesome is its simplicity of flavors and yet how tropical and delicious it tastes.

This Coconut Rice is so versatile. It tastes so amazing with a good Thai or Indian Curry and tastes equally good with Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken or Jamaican Jerk Chicken.

Since the Coastal or Tropical regions are marked by sultry hot days, so a hearty meal like Coconut Rice obviously seems like a perfect option because it cools you down and most importantly is local, fresh, and made with easily accessible ingredients.

What Makes Coconut Oil taste so hearty

Hearty, filling, comforting - The three words that define Coconut Rice at its best. This Tropical flavored Coconut Rice Recipe is simple but will take you to your tropical vacay mode with every spoonful of it.

Thai Coconut Rice Vs Indian Coconut Rice

The Thai Version of Coconut Rice is made the same way as this one, just they skip the tempered spices part. The South Indian version, adds some tempered herbs, seeds, and nuts on top, just for that extra nutty taste and added burst of flavors!

There are literally a million ways to make Coconut Rice in itself. While the basic steps of cooking jasmine rice in Coconut Milk remain the same, the big difference really comes in step after it.

In some places in Thailand, Cashew Coconut Rice is served. Here along with Cashew Nuts, Red Bell Pepper, Red Onions, Green Onions, Carrots and Cabbage are also stir-fried just until crunchy and tender and then this is tossed with the rice. You can also, add some Peanut Sauce over it and serve this Cashew Coconut Rice.

How to make Coconut Rice in Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker

If you do not own an Instant Pot, you can find instructions on how to cook Coconut Rice in the Pressure Cooker

STEP 1: Cook the Rice

• Add 1 cup of washed and rinsed Jasmine rice to the Instant Pot
• Pour 2 cups of Coconut Milk
• Season it with salt and sugar
• Cover with the lid and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes
• Once the rice gets cooked allow the pressure to release naturally
• Fluff the Coconut Rice using a fork
• Take it out in a bowl.

You can cook Coconut Rice in a Pressure Cooker in the same way. Just add washed and rinsed Rice to the Pressure cooker and pour Coconut Milk.

Always remember that the ratio of Rice to Coconut Milk is 1:2

Season with salt and sugar and pressure cook on high heat for 3 minutes.

STEP 2: Temper Spices

• Heat Coconut Oil in a skillet
• As the oil shimmers, add Dried Red Chilis, Black Mustard Seeds, Curry Leaves, Desiccated/Shredded Coconut, Urad Dal or Black Gram, Chana Dal or Split Chickpeas, Curry Leaves, and Cashew Nuts to the skillet
• Saute until the Mustard seeds stop to sizzle
• Take them off the pan and pour over the cooked Coconut Rice.

Other Possible Alterations

• To make the Thai Version, skip the tempered spices. Just garnish with some more dedicated Coconut and fresh Kafir Lime Leaves.
• You can skip the seasoning altogether and just serve steamed Coconut Rice, as it is done in the Caribbean or Hawaiian cuisine.

Low Carb Coconut Rice

You can make this low carb by skipping Jasmine Rice and use Cauliflower rice. However, you do not have to steam Cauliflower rice. Just toss it in a skillet with some olive oil, coconut milk, salt, and sweetener. Add some shredded Coconut and Kafir lime leaves on top and serve.

I hope you liked this recipe. If you happen to make this recipe, then comment below and rate this recipe. Also, tag me with #recipemagik on Instagram.