Fluffy coconut rice eluded me for years. And finally, I’ve cracked it. This is super fluffy, none of the gluey coconut milk scum on the surface. Just like you get at restaurants!
Coconut Rice
Truly fluffy coconut rice eluded me for years. I felt like I tried every variation possible, but when I lifted the lid, I’d stare at dismay at a layer of coconut fat scum on the surface of the rice which ended up coating all the grains when I fluffed the rice.
Finally, I feel like I’ve cracked the secret code. And every since then, I’ve never looked back. Fluffy coconut rice every. single. time WITHOUT FAIL!
Here’s the secret to fluffy coconut rice
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Rinse the rice – this is a must to remove excess starch. I don’t do this when cooking normal white rice. It’s essential for coconut rice because coconut milk is thicker than water so it can make the rice a gluey mess. Just rinse the rice until the water is pretty clear. It will never be 100% clear.
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Soak rice for 20 minutes – this essentially gives the rice grains a bit of a head start in the water absorption phase which is critical to ensure the rice is fully cooked because we cook the rice in LESS liquid than usual…. explained further in the next step!
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LESS liquid than usual! Normally, I religiously follow the 1 : 1.5 ratio to cook rice. That is, 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water. But every time I did this for coconut rice, using a combination of water and coconut milk (increase / decreasing in my many iterations!!), my rice always came out gluey! I was astonished to discover that 1:1 is the perfect ratio. That is, 1 cup of rice for 1 cups of coconut milk + water combo!
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Can’t just use coconut milk – it’s just too thick, the rice can’t absorb it properly. It needs to be diluted with some water. I find the perfect flavour / rice texture is achieved by using 1 can (400ml/14oz) coconut milk with 1/2 cup of water (just over 2 cups) for 2 cups of rice.
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Bring to boil, stir ONCE, THEN lower heat and cover – This is quite key as well! I do not understand the science behind this, but suffice to say that bring to a boil before covering results in clean, fluffy rice grains. On the other hand, if you cover and keep the stove at a low temperature the whole time, you end up with a thick layer of coconut milk “scum” on the surface of the rice.
And that, my friends, is the secret to fluffy coconut rice.
It’s a lot of words. But don’t worry, actually cooking it is super duper simple!
How to rinse rice
I find it easiest to rinse rice in a bowl. Just pour the rice in a bowl and fill with water, then swish it around. Drain (just pour the water out best you can, no need to use a colander), then fill with water again and repeat 4 to 5 times until the water is pretty clear.
The water will never be completely clear! My rule of thumb is 4 to 5 refills of the bowl.
BONUS: There’s an even EASIER way to make this using coconut milk powder. I’ve popped that extra recipe below the coconut milk recipe (ie scroll to bottom of post). It’s an extra because I coconut milk powder isn’t as common as coconut milk. While I always have coconut milk on hand, I don’t usually have powder!
How to make Thai / Asian Coconut Rice
To get a true Asian restaurant coconut rice, the secret is to add pandan leaves. If you can’t find pandan leaves, kaffir limes leaves also add a similar fragrance.
This is what pandan leaves looks like. It’s sold at some Harris Farms in Australia, as well as Asian stores.
To prepare them for use, just knot them – this breaks the leaves, releasing the flavour so it infuses into the rice.
What to serve this with
Coconut rice is a rice dish that is used in cuisines such as Caribbean, Tropical (Hawaiian!) as well as South East Asian foods such as Thai and Malaysian foods.
But don’t let “rules” restrict you. Use it as you wish – and I promise you, it’s so delish, you can even eat it plain, straight out of the pot!
Hope you enjoy! – Nagi x
Coconut Rice will go great with…
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Restaurant Style Coconut Rice (Coconut Milk)
Ingredients
Coconut Rice
- 2 cups (360g) jasmin or long grain white rice (Note 1)
- 400 ml / 14 oz coconut milk , full fat or light (Note 2)
- 1/2 cup (125ml) water
- 1 tbsp white sugar (Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp salt
Asian Restaurant Style - use ONE:
- 3 pandan leaves , knotted
- 3 kaffir lime leaves , crushed in hand
Optional Garnish:
- 1 tbsp desiccated coconut , toasted, to garnish
Instructions
- Rinse rice in water until the water runs pretty clear. (Note 1)
- Drain rice then soak in water for 15 minutes. Then drain.
- Add rice, coconut milk, water, sugar and salt into a small pot or large saucepan over medium high heat. Add pandan or kaffir lime leaf if making Asian restaurant style option.
- Bring it to a simmer so the entire surface of the liquid is rippling (not just the edges), give it ONE stir (not more!), place lid on and immediately turn heat down to LOW.
- Leave for 14 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and rest, undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
- Fluff with rubber spatula. Garnish with toasted coconut, if using, then serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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Restaurant Style Coconut Rice - Coconut POWDER
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice (or long grain) (see notes)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 packet coconut milk powder (1.75 oz / 50 g) (see notes)
- 2 kaffir lime leaves , crumpled in your hand OR 3 pandam leaves, knotted
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp desiccated coconut , toasted, to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over high heat. Place lid on.
- When it comes to the boil (watch it, you don't want it to boil over), turn down the heat to low / medium low so it is simmering gently.
- Leave it to simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat and rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Fluff with fork. Garnish with toasted coconut, if using, then serve.
Loved it! Made one cup of rice- so just halved recipe and was perfect. I was unsure if it would absorb all water/milk but it was perfect!!!
Im in the process of making this hiwevet ive only got coconut cream so ive used less than 1/2 a can but have no idea now how to balance this as i dont want 2 cups of rice either. Are you able to give more info on less rice and possibly using coconut cream. Thank you
Been to Thailand ate their coconut chicken and thought I would never have it again but then I read your recipe. How authentic and it was a lucky day when I came across it thank you.
I want to make this for 8 people but once done I have to drive 30 minutes to someone else’s home. Can I just leave it in the pot surrounded by tea towels to keep it warm and fluff when I arrive?
Hi Arlene – yes that would be fine! N x
I never wash and rinse my rice; however, in trying to find the perfect coconut rice recipe I followed instructions here to a T. Oh My Science! The rice was beautiful. I have never had rice look so pretty. Probably going to start washing and soaking my rice …. especially if I am cooking for others. Oh and the taste was amazing. Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome Anna!! N x
Tried your Fluffy coconut rice recipe, it worked perfectly at first attempt. I will try the more sophisticated variants next.
Thank you!
I made the coconut milk version and used bay leaves + lime zest because I did not have access to pandan/kaffir lime leaves. I was scared that it was turning out gooey when I looked into my rice cooker at the end, but after resting, it came out amazing! I recommend using asian scented jasmine rice instead of western-style jasmine rice as it will come out fluffier and more flavourful 🙂 Thanks for this great recipe! BOOKMARKED
I have made this with both the canned coconut and the powder version.In my opinion the powder version is easier and tastier!! This recipe is a winner!! Thanks so much.
Hi and thanks for your recipes! I want to try this with brown rice, but am nervous it will be crunchy or boil dry. Advice? I can go brown Basmati if results are likely to be better. Thanks so much
Delicious! Great recipe!
I haven’t tried the recipie yet but just efore i do i wanted to know if you can freeze this ? I normally freeze left over basmati rice in sealed bags or boxes with no issues on defrost but not sure if the coconut will make a difference?
I made the coconut rice just like the recipe and it came out perfectly fluffy!! Thank you Nagi for doing the work to perfection😊 I love coconut rice made with Jasmine rice. I did however use coconit cream because I enjoy a more richer flavor. I also always use a higher quality rice from the Korean market I go to. The rinse of a higher quality rice doesn’t produce a lot of starch. Anyway, this is the recipe I’ll be using from here on out! Love it💕
I followed the instructions exactly, and was very very pleasantly surprised with the results = *perfect coconut flavored fluffy rice*
Just served this rice with grilled tuna and stir fried veggies and it was awesome!
The first time I tried this it came out perfect. But often times now it ends up undercooked and with a thin layer of cream on top.
Any idea what the cause could be?
Hi Alex – that would usually be the brand of rice – do you use the same one every time? They vary a lot so once I find one that works, I stick with it! N x
Made this tonight and all I can say is MAGIC . We loved it , next time I’ll use a bit better brand coconut milk . But this was sooooo yummy and I was amazed how it was all seperate . Went well with Your sticky honey soy chicken. Thankyou
I am so glad you enjoyed it, Kerrie! N x
Done for dinner tonight with stir fry vedge and chicken. Beat ever coconut rice and so simple.
Thanks heaps
Tastes so good so easy and works every time!
Gorgeous with Nagi’s Thai chicken curry!!!
My Husband loved this with a thai prawn curry that I nade up myself.
I’ve made the coconut milk version of this coconut rice a dozen times. Tonight I tried the coconut powder version and it was a fail for me.
Based on this I highly recommend the coconut milk version (5 stars +++++), but won’t do the coconut milk powder version again (I did follow the recipe to a tee)!
I was sceptical about this recipe right until it passed my lips – then I became a true believer. I used basmati rice and it came out perfect.
Anyone every make a large batch of this? I’m being asked to make this for 84 people. In My rice cooker I can double it (4 cups dry rice to start) and it comes out great. For 84 people I will have to do 7x this much. I could do the pot method as Nagi describes, but I worry about doing that much at one time (14 cans of coconut milk!!)
Anyway if anyone has tips on this I’d appreciate it. I need to buy the ingredients tomorrow as I will be cooking this for a camping trip so if you can answer by tomorrow morning I’d appreciate it!
Hi Shane…I work with Nagi and we do rice at volume for RecipeTin Meals and for camping trips all the time! The safest way to get a good result with this is recipe to cook it 7 times in the rice cooker. The pot method is less reliable at large volumes plus we haven’t tested large volumes of the coconut one so couldn’t tell you the correct ratio to adjust. The quickest option would be to make plain basmati rice which is the easiest to do and to do it like pasta and boil in lots of water then drain and cool. Be careful transporting that quantity as well as rice spoils easily and needs to stay cold. Good luck!