Coconut Rice Recipe

Easy coconut rice is light, fluffy, delicious, and flavorful. Its quick and easy to make restaurant quality coconut rice at home with just a handful of ingredients in under 30 minutes!

Its our go-to side dish that pairs well across so many different cuisines including Thai entrees, South Asian curries, tropical dishes, and more. This rich coconut milk rice is loaded with natural coconut flavors and is a favorite amongst our readers with over 52 five-star reviews!

To make easy coconut rice, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

You can also add some toppings to the rice once it has been cooked or toss them in. Some of my favorites to add are:

Cooking coconut milk rice is really not any different from cooking any other rice side dish (such as Steamed Rice). The only difference is the addition of coconut milk and a pinch of sugar.

If making this recipe in the rice cooker, you will need to use ½ cup less water. Rinse the rice as directed in the recipe. Then, add all of the ingredients into the rice cooker and give them a quick stir. Set the rice cooker to cook on the white rice setting. Once done, keep the rice cooker sealed and let the rice steam for another 5-10 minutes. Then, open the lid, fluff it with a fork, and serve.

Easy coconut rice is the perfect rice dish to compliment a variety of different cuisines such as Thai, South Asian, Caribbean, and Hawaiian (or any tropical cuisine). But just because it can be paired so well with these cuisines, do not be fooled! This side dish can be paired with any type of cuisine at all that needs a little coconut flair.

Serve it hot and pour a curry on top (or any meat or vegetable dish) and enjoy!

Easy Coconut Rice

Easy coconut rice is light, fluffy, delicious, and flavorful. It’s a quick and easy side dish that compliments all Thai, South Asian, and tropical dishes.

Prep: 5min

Total: 30min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 1 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 cup, calories 236 calories, Sugar 1 g, Sodium 592.3 mg, Fat 12.2 g, Saturated Fat 10.7 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 29.2 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 3.4 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

• 2 cups jasmine rice
• 1 (400 ml) can coconut milk
• 1 + 1/2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (or to taste)
• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped (optional for garnish)

Instruction:

1. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘In a medium-sized cooking pot or in a mixing bowl, rinse the jasmine rice in several changes of cold water until the water runs clear. Drain any excess water in a large fine-mesh sieve and place the rice back into the cooking pot.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-1’}
2. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Add coconut milk, water, salt, and sugar.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-2’}
3. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once it starts to boil, turn the heat down to low and cook covered for 20 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook for 5 minutes.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-3’}
4. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Fluff and serve with some chopped cilantro on top (optional).’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-4’}
5. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘Rice Cooker Instructions:’, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘If making this recipe in the rice cooker, you will need to use 1/2 cup less water.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-5’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Rinse the rice as directed in the recipe.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-6’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Add all of the ingredients into the rice cooker and give them a quick stir. Set the rice cooker to cook on the white rice setting.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-7’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Once done, keep the rice cooker sealed and let the rice steam for another 5-10 minutes. Then, open the lid, fluff it with a fork, and serve.’, ‘url’: ‘https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/04/easy-coconut-rice/#instruction-step-8’}]}

Restaurant Style Coconut Rice (Coconut Milk)

This is a recipe for exceptionally fluffy, coconut rice! No gluggy coconut milk scum left on the surface, each grain is clean and fluffy. The trick is to BAKE it rather than use the stove. No scorched pot, and the rice grains are evenly cooked!Make it Asian-restaurant style by adding pandan leaves OR kaffir lime leaves. Or finish with a sprinkle of toasted coconuts. Serve with: tropical, Caribbean, Indian and Asian foods. See recipe card below for stove-top COCONUT POWDER version (no rice rinse, no soak).

Prep: 5min

Total: 17min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 148 g

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 148 g, calories 192 kcal

Ingredients:

• 2 cups jasmin rice ((Note 1))
• 400 ml / 14 oz coconut milk (, full fat or light (Note 2))
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp white sugar ((Note 3))
• 1/2 tsp cooking / kosher salt
• 3 pandan leaves (, knotted)
• 3 kaffir lime leaves (, crushed in hand)
• 1 tbsp desiccated coconut (, toasted, to garnish)

Instruction:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C / 400°F (180°C fan).
2. Rinse rice in water until the water runs pretty clear. (Note 1)
3. Soak & drain – Drain rice then soak in water for 1 hour. Then drain in a colander and leave to drain well for 5 minutes.
4. Rice in pan – Place the rice in a 20cm / 8″ square pan (metal or ceramic). Add pandam or kaffir, if using.
5. Heat coconut milk – Heat coconut milk, water, sugar and salt in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar.
6. Bake 40 minutes – Working quickly (to minimise heat loss), pour hot liquid over rice, stir quickly to spread rice evenly. Cover with foil then bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
7. Rest 15 minutes – Remove the pan from the oven. Take a quick peek to ensure the liquid has been absorbed (tilt pan to check). There will be coconut cream on the surface – that’s normal. Rest rice, covered, for 15 minutes. Do not shortcut this!
8. Fluff with rubber spatula. Garnish with toasted coconut, if using, then serve. Marvel at fluffy rice!

Easy Coconut Rice

This easy and simple Coconut Rice will be a deeply fragrant addition to your dinner table, and you can dress it up however you like: sweet, savory, or spicy!

Prep: 10min

Total: 40min

Yield: 6 serving(s)

Nutrition Facts: calories 363 Calories, Fat 15 g, Saturated Fat 13 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 328 mg, Carbohydrate 52 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 2 g, Protein 6 g

Ingredients:

• 2 c. long grain rice, rinsed and drained
• 1 (14-oz.) can coconut milk
• 1 1/2 c. water
• 1 tbsp. granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

Instruction:

1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine rice, coconut milk, water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and let simmer, covered, 18 to 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
2. Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork. Serve topped with sesame seeds, if desired.

How to Make My Favorite Coconut Rice

My absolute favorite, creamy coconut rice made with three simple ingredients for the best side dish! This easy coconut rice recipe is ready in just under 30 minutes and is delicious paired with your favorite meals like salmon, stir frys, curries and more.

Prep: 5min

Total: 30min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving (based on 8)

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 serving (based on 8), calories 325 kcal, Fat 17.5 g, Saturated Fat 15 g, Carbohydrate 38.8 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1.3 g, Protein 4.3 g

Ingredients:

• 2 cups jasmine white rice
• 2 (15 ounce) cans full fat coconut milk (can also use lite coconut milk from the can)
• 1/2 cup water
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instruction:

1. Combine rice, coconut milk, water and salt in a medium pot, and bring to a boil.
2. Once boiling, cover with a tight-fitting lid, reduce heat to low and simmer rice for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from heat (keep the lid on — DO NOT OPEN), and allow rice to steam for another 10 minutes, then fluff rice with a fork. Serve with your favorite meal such as salmon, stir fry, etc.

How to Make Easy Coconut Rice | The Stay At Home Chef