When thinking about cooking with coconut, many might imagine shredded coconut or pairing a meal with a refreshing piña colada drink. However, coconut is quite versatile whether it’s used as an oil, milk, water or even toasted whole for a crunchy texture. And, the best part is that it pairs well with Mahatma® Rice for all kinds of meal ideas from a coconut curry with basmati rice to Caribbean arroz con coco.
Below we have some of our favorite coconut and rice recipes that we’ll share so that you can feel encouraged to try new flavors with confidence in the kitchen!
Adding Coconut Flavor to Your Rice
One delicious way to get a creamy and luscious rice dish that isn’t too sweet with lots of milk or cream is to add a combination of coconut milk and water.
Make an Easy Coconut Rice recipe in just 30 minutes by following these simple steps using Mahatma® Jasmine Rice, water, coconut milk and salt.
Step 1 – Remove any excess starch from your rice by washing it.
Step 2 – Allow the rice to absorb some of the water by leaving it to soak for around 20 minutes.
Step 3 – Pour in the coconut milk and water.
Step 4 – Bring the mixture to the boil and stir.
Step 5 – Lower the heat and wait until the rice has absorbed the liquid.
Tips
If you have a rice cooker simply pour the mixture in, you don’t need to worry about steps 3,4 and 5.
For best results, make sure you have the right rice water ratio.
If you find a paste forming at the bottom of the pan while you are boiling the mixture, keep stirring and scraping it until it begins turning a golden brown to make delicious caramelized coconut. Caramelized onion tastes delicious when sprinkled over a rice dish.
When buying your coconut milk try to find one without any stabilizers like crystalline cellulose or xantham gum as these may cause the milk not to separate when boiling.
Using Mahatma® White Rice for your base instead of jasmine rice will give your dish a more neutral flavor. Alternatively you can use Mahatma® Basmati Rice if you want your rice to be fluffier with more of a spiced flavor.
Coconut rice goes with almost anything, from breakfast dishes to desserts. Now we know how to make coconut rice, let’s learn how to make some recipes!
Coconut Rice Recipes
This Coconut Jasmine Rice With Shrimp recipe can be made in no time at all and is packed with flavor. Mixing Thai and Caribbean influences, this dish is made with red curry paste, ginger and rum.
Alternatively, you can easily make this classic Latin American Vegetarian Arroz con Coco and Fried Plantains recipe by simply adding in some plantains and avocado.
Tip: keep your plantains in a bowl of salted water to keep them from discoloring before cooking them!
Now we know how to make some simple recipes with coconut rice, let’s learn how to make some coconut based sauces and toppings we can serve with traditional rice.
Traditional Rice Recipes With Coconut
This protein-packed Savory Coconut Fried Rice can be made in no time at all. By using coconut oil you can enhance the coconut taste even further. If you want to turn up the sweetness even further you can try adding in some fruit like blueberries or strawberries.
This velvety Pumpkin Rice Soup is given its texture with coconut milk. This Thai flavored soup is perfect for when temperatures start to fall in autumn and winter. For an added kick add some turmeric, ginger or replace the curry powder with red curry paste.
Lovers of Indian curry will enjoy this Easy Chicken Tikka Masala With Basmati Rice recipe, it’s perfect for those who like a bit of spice but don’t want to be overwhelmed. This coconut milk based recipe takes no time at all to prepare and is perfect for lunch or dinner. If you are following a vegetarian diet, swap out the chicken for tofu or chickpeas.
Dairy-Free Desserts
Coconut not only works in savory meals, but it can also be used very effectively in desserts as well, for example this gluten-free Coconut and Almond Rice Tart made with Mahatma® White Rice. Try serving with strawberries to add to this dessert’s fruity flavor.
Fans of sweet creamy drinks will love this Coconut Rice Pudding Milkshake recipe. This shake takes no time to make and is made with coconut milk, banana, vanilla, cinnamon along with Mahatma® Jasmine Rice. If you want to include more natural ingredients to make this into more of a smoothie, you can add in more fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, by adding in a couple of shots of espresso you can make this shake into an iced coffee.
Fruity desserts like this light and refreshing Sticky Rice With Mango recipe taste great when served with coconut rice. To add a bit of extra flavor, try garnishing with toasted sesame seeds or cashews.
Stay tuned to Mahatma® Rice for more recipes and kitchen tips like how to make arroz con leche. If you are in the mood for something more savory, take a look at these rice and beans tacos.
