coconut rice (take 2)

Okay, I'll admit, this recipe is a re-post. Savory coconut rice is one of the first recipes I made for the blog and it has been a staple in my house ever since. I wanted to repost the recipe for three reasons: 1) because it was part of this week's complete meal plan (will be posted tomorrow), 2) the first version was posted before I started doing step-by-step photo instructions, and 3) it's just so so so good that I don't want any new followers to miss it.

Seriously, when your coworkers all "oooh" and "ahhh" over the smell coming out of the microwave, you know you've got something seriously good. Not only is it seriously good, but it's seriously easy. If you have trouble getting rice to come out right on the stove top, invest in a rice cooker. They're fool proof, you'll use it a lot, and they're very inexpensive.

I usually use light coconut milk to make my coconut rice, but the store only had regular this time around. I have to admit, I prefer the light coconut milk. The light coconut milk gives all of the flavor without the oily residue.

Oh, and if you're wondering, this rice is not sweet. I know it's hard to disconnect coconut with sweetness, but coconut milk by itself is not at all sweet. It's just really creamy and good!




Total Recipe cost: $2.91
Servings Per Recipe: 6 (1/2 cup each)
Cost per serving: $0.49
Prep time: 5 min. Cook time: 45 min Total: 50 min.

INGREDIENTS		COST
1.5 cups	dry jasmine rice	$0.66
1 (15 oz.) can	coconut milk	$2.14
1 large clove	garlic	$0.08
3/4 tsp	salt	$0.03
1 cup	water	$0.00
TOTAL		$2.91

STEP 1: Add the dry rice to a medium pot. Add enough cool water to cover the rice by about two inches. Swish the rice around until the water is cloudy. Carefully pour off as much of the cloudy water as possible. Repeat two more times. Try to pour off as much water as possible the last time, using a lid to hold the rice in if necessary.

STEP 2: Mince the clove of garlic and add it to the pot with the rice. Also add the salt, the coconut milk, and one cup of fresh water. Stir to combine the ingredients.

STEP 3: Place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a rolling boil over high heat. As soon as the rice reaches a full boil, turn the heat down to the lowest setting. Allow it to simmer on the lowest setting for 30 minutes. Turn the heat off and allow it to rest, undisturbed, with the lid in place, for an additional 15 minutes.

STEP 4: Remove the lid, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Step By Step Photos

Start by placing the dry rice in a medium sized pot. Jasmine rice can usually be found in large bags near the other Asian ingredients or in the rice aisle. It is usually hiding on the bottom shelf. Buy large 5lb. bags to get the best price. Sometimes "specialty rice" brands will sell small containers of it for outlandishly expensive prices... don't be fooled!


Cover the rice with cool water and swish it around until the water turns cloudy. Pour off as much water as possible and repeat two more times. This will help the rice be fluffy rather than sticky when cooked. Make sure to pour off as much water as possible the last time.


All you need besides the jasmine rice is coconut milk, garlic, and salt. That's it. Like I said, I really prefer the light coconut milk because you get tons of flavor without so much oiliness.


When cooking rice, you usually want a rice to liquid ratio of about 1:1.5 or 1:2. The can of coconut milk measured out to 1.75 cups, so I just added another cup of water. This gave me a good rice:liquid ratio of 1:1.8 - right in the middle. It doesn't have to be exact.


Add the coconut milk, minced garlic, salt, and one cup of fresh water to the pot with the rinsed rice. Give it a quick stir to make sure the salt and garlic are well distributed.


Place a lid on top and bring it up to a rolling boil over high heat. Just as soon as it reaches a full boil, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and allow it to simmer, with the lid on, for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes turn the heat off and let it sit, undisturbed for 15 more minutes. Open it up and this is what you've got.


Fluff it up with a fork and serve! ...and try not to shovel it straight into your mouth, because you're gonna want to.


I can eat this stuff straight... it's amazing. Green onions go really nicely on top, as does Sriracha. I also experimented with mixing it up with the Tahini Kale salad and it was OUTSTANDING.