Easy, Versatile and Delicious Coconut Rice

Rice is a staple ingredient used in almost every culture and is widely consumed all over the globe. Its versatility and neutral flavor make it the perfect grain to be consumed for breakfast, lunch, dinner… and even dessert!

Some background history

Made with white rice and coconut milk, Coconut rice is a sweet dish consumed across the equator: from Southeast Asia to the Caribbean. Although its origins are not clear, it is said that this recipe comes from a mixture of cultures and countries such as Africa, Spain, India and Latin America. Thus, it has many different ways to be consumed: in India, for example, coconut rice is typically made with basmati rice, coconut flakes toasted in sesame oil and spiced with paprika, curry powder, and nuts and served with savory dishes. In Latin America, it is also served with savory dishes, cooked with beans, onions and as a side dish to fish. But it is sweet coconut rice, one of the most famous recipes of all.Some regions cook the rice with fresh coconut and the end product is white, mildly sweet rice. Some other regions cook the rice with titotés, which are the caramelized bits of coconut that appear when this grain is being cooked; the end product is brownish rice with a stronger flavor.

Health benefits of coconut

You may be familiar with the benefits of white rice, but have you ever heard of the benefits of coconut?It is interesting to note that coconut can be classified as a nut, a fruit or a seed depending on your criteria. They grow on palm trees in warm climates across the world (yes, those same countries that make sweet coconut rice!). Coconut meat’s white flesh is edible, and it can be used to make oil, coconut milk or cream, and also dried coconut flakes. It has many health benefits: it is a source of healthy fats, it contains protein and fiber and minerals like iron, manganese, copper and magnesium.Also, it has been used as part of traditional medicine to counteract some poisons, ease inflammation and kill bacteria. There are research studies that prove that coconut meat has large amounts of medium-chain fatty acids, a type of fat that is way easier to digest for humans than animal fats. These fat compounds, also known as medium-chain triglycerides, boost the endurance of athletes.

The Most Versatile Coconut Rice Recipe

After reading all this information about rice, you might be wondering how to make it.Follow this recipe to make the most delicious and versatile coconut rice. You can serve it with savory dishes or even have it as dessert.

Ingredients

14 fl oz (400 ml) of coconut milk.
2 cups of jasmine rice.
1 cup of water.
1 tbsp of brown sugar.
1/2 tsp salt.
Shredded coconut.

How to make it

It is paramount that you rinse your rice. Coconut milk is thicker than water, so it’s important you remove the excess starch from the rice before cooking it. After rinsing it, soak it in water for, at least, one hour. This will make the grains absorb the coconut milk easier.
While your rice is soaking, preheat the oven to 390 F (200 degrees Celsius).
In a large pot, combine one cup of water and 400 milliliters of coconut milk. Bring it to a boil before adding the rice. This will make the cooking process a bit easier.
In a deep enough baking dish, add the soaked rice and the boiled water and coconut mixture. Cover the baking dish and bake it for at least forty minutes; when you cover the rice, it will cook as if it were steamed on the stove. After the 40 minutes have passed, take the baking dish out of the oven and leave it to rest for another fifteen minutes.
If you wish to have this coconut rice as dessert, we recommend you add brown sugar to the water and coconut milk mixture mentioned in the third step. Bring it all to a boil, reduce the heat, and let it simmer. Then continue with the remaining steps. Garnish your dessert with shredded coconut, some walnuts and chocolate chips, and enjoy!

If you wish to learn about other easy coconut rice recipes, you can visit: https://mahatmarice.com/recipes/easy-coconut-rice/

Author Profile

Sarah Meere

Executive Editor

Sarah looks after corporate enquiries and relationships for UKFilmPremieres, CelebEvents, ShowbizGossip, Celeb Management brands for the MarkMeets Group. Sarah works for numerous media brands across the UK.

Email https://markmeets.com/contact-form/