Coconut Rice

Coconut Rice

The photo here, doesn’t show the green onions.  I like to add plenty of chopped green onion to coconut rice.

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup Jasmine or Basmati rice
• 1 cup coconut water or plain water (coconut water is sold in cans, sweetened and unsweetened)
• salt to taste
• 3/4 cup coconut cream, unsweetened
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 teaspoon coconut flavoring
• 1/2 cup green onion, white and green parts chopped
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

The trick to making good coconut rice is to begin cooking the rice with less liquid than the package calls for.  About three quarters of the way through cooking, you will add enough coconut cream to make up for the missing liquid.  This is because, if you add the coconut cream from the beginning, the rice doesn’t absorb the liquid and you end up with crunchy rice that doesn’t seem cooked.    

The amount of liquid will vary depending on the type of rice you use.  Follow the directions on the package to determine the amount of liquid that is required to cook 1 cup of uncooked rice.  If the package calls for 1 and 1/2 cup of water, only use 1 cup.  You will make up the missing liquid later on with coconut cream.  If the package calls for some other amount of liquid, reduce it my 1/2 cup and add 1/2 cup plus a little more coconut cream three quarters of the way through cooking. 

Place the liquid and rice in a medium sauce pan.  Salt to taste and bring to a boil.  Cover pan and reduce heat to simmer.  Simmer for as long as the package indicates less ten minutes.  At this point, remove the lid and add 3/4 cup coconut cream and stir.  Replace lid and continue simmering for 10 to 15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed.  If rice still seems a bit dry, add more coconut cream.

Remove from heat and stir in the coconut flavoring, sugar, salt and butter.  Gently stir in the onions and cilantro.  Taste for seasonings, make adjustments if necessary and serve.  I get rave reviews when I make rice this way.

Note: if you have used sweetened coconut water, do not add additional sugar.  You want the rice to have just a hint of sweet which will showcase the coconut flavor.  Do NOT use sweetened coconut cream.  It is way to sweet for this recipe