Easy Coconut Rice Recipe

Saturdays are strictly vegetarian/ lazy days in my household (for religious reasons). It is one of those days you cannot even make eggs for breakfast and I get frustrated when it comes to planning meals on Saturdays. Coconut rice is one those dishes, in my mind, is designated to be made only on Saturdays. Why? It is vegetarian and it’s very easy to make. Even if you have never cooked before, I promise you, you can make this.

It is one of those dishes you can make without putting in a lot of effort. I remember making this in my dorm with my little electric cooker. It requires very few ingredients: steamed white rice, freshly grated coconut or store bought coconut flakes, red chillies, split chick peas/ channa dhal/ kadalai paruppu, urud dhal, and curry leaves. Hero of this dish is the coconut and not the spices. The aroma of the toasted coconut flakes is what that makes this dish very unique. I would suggest serving coconut rice with a side of crispy papadams or potato chips, or home made instant mango pickles! Are you lazy to cook today? Well, try making this coconut rice and let me know how it turned out.

Happy Cooking!

Easy Coconut Rice

Jay Naveenan

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 3

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup White rice
• Salt as required
• Water to boil the rice as required
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper optional

For tempering:

• 1 tbsp oil for tempering
• 1/2 cup freshly grated coconut or store bought coconut flakes
• 3-4 Red chilis
• 1/4 tsp Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp Split chick peas/ channa dhal/ kadalai paruppu
• 1/2 tsp Urud dhal
• 1 sprig Curry leaves

Instructions

 

• Steam a cup of white rice by adding a pinch of salt to the water
• When the rice is done, turn off the heat and transfer it to a serving bowl
• Now heat a small pan with a tbsp of oil (medium-high)
• Once the oil is hot, add all the ingredients listed under ‘for tempering’
• Let them splutter for 10 seconds or so; and then reduce the heat. 
• Now add 1/2 cup of freshly grated coconut or store bought coconut flakes to the tempered ingredients in the pan and toast until it turns golden brown
• Now add all the ingredients in the pan to the steamed white rice and mix thoroughly. Add 1/4 tsp of freshly ground black pepper (optional)
• Serve immediately with something crispy like potato chips or papadams; or home made mango pickles!

Keyword Coconut flakes, Rice

Directions with pictures

1.Steam a cup of white rice by adding a pinch of salt to the water

2. When the rice is done, turn off the heat and transfer it to a serving bowl.

3. Now heat a small pan with a tbsp of oil (medium-high)

4. Once the oil is hot, add all the ingredients listed under ‘for tempering’

5. Let them splutter for 10 seconds or so; and then reduce the heat.

6. Now add 1/2 cup of freshly grated coconut or store bought coconut flakes to the tempered ingredients in the pan and toast until it turns golden brown

7. Now add all the ingredients in the pan to the steamed white rice and mix thoroughly. Add 1/4 tsp of freshly ground black pepper (optional)

8. Serve immediately with something crispy like potato chips or papadams; or home made mango pickles!