Coconut Rice

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This easy Coconut Rice recipe is a fantastic way to jazz up white rice! Coconut milk adds creamy sweetness to fluffy basmati rice, turning it into an ultra-flavorful accompaniment for curries, seafood, and more.

A white bowl holds coconut rice garnished with cilantro.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Coconut Rice Recipe

  • Cuisine Inspiration: Southeast Asian
  • Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
  • Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
  • Skill Level: Easy

Coconut rice is the ultimate easy comfort food recipe! While we love cooked basmati rice on its own, it’s also a blank slate to add more flavor. Slightly sweet and decadently fluffy, this coconut rice recipe is creamy and soothing. A handful of ingredients come together to make a quick and irresistible side dish that can be served simply with vegetables, or you can add it to a more hearty meal of shrimp or chicken. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this coconut milk recipe:

  • Minimal ingredients. Just a few ingredients, including rice, coconut milk, salt, honey, and water, are the main basics you’ll need. Keep them stocked so you can whip this up whenever the mood strikes.
  • Perfect side dish. I love coconut rice with so many dishes from stir fries to curries and more. It’s a fantastic way to spruce up a simple side of rice with flavor.
  • Gorgeous texture. This coconut rice recipe manages to be both creamy and light at the same time! The coconut milk infuses the rice as it cooks, giving it both flavor and a beautiful fluffy texture.
A bowl of coconut rice is seen beneath a serving spoon with a portion of rice.

What You’ll Need

Here’s a look at what you need to make this versatile side dish. Make sure to check the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts.

  • Basmati Rice: A long-grain white rice, basmati cooks up beautifully fluffy. Learn how to make perfect basmati rice in this post.
  • Water: We use a mix of water and coconut milk to cook the rice to tender perfection.
  • Coconut Milk: I use a can of full-fat coconut milk in this recipe for the ultimate creamy texture, and you could also use low-fat coconut milk if you wish.
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Honey: A little honey plays up the sweetness of the coconut milk and gives the rice a hint of natural sweetness. You may omit the honey if you prefer less sweet rice.
  • Cilantro: Fresh cilantro is used to garnish the rice.
Ingredients for coconut rice are shown portioned out and labelled: basmati rice, water, coconut milk, salt and pepper. honey, cilantro.

Can I Use Jasmine Rice Instead of Basmati?

Yes, jasmine rice is a good substitute for basmati rice in coconut rice. Jasmine rice, like basmati rice, is a long grain rice with a floral flavor and cooks similarly, making it an ideal swap for basmati rice in recipes. Note that basmati rice is a bit more chewy and nutty than jasmine rice, which is even more fluffy than basmati rice after being cooked.

How To Make Coconut Rice

Here’s a look at how to make this coconut milk recipe. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.

  • Rinse the rice. Under cold water rinse, then drain the rice.
  • Cook the rice. Place the rice along with the coconut milk, water, salt, pepper, and honey in a pot and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat. After the pot reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.
  • Rest. Uncover and stir the rice, then rest it for 5 minutes before garnishing with cilantro and serving warm.
Coconut rice in a white bowl topped with cilantro.

Tips & Variations

I love making this recipe exactly how it’s written, and I also love to play around with it a little bit! Try a different type of rice, add more spices, or even make it sweeter – it’s up to you.

  • Use brown rice. If you wish, substitute brown basmati or brown jasmine rice for the basmati rice for an extra hit of whole grains. Brown rice cooks slightly differently than white rice, and you can see my tips for cooking brown rice in this post.
  • Omit the honey. For a less-sweet version of coconut rice, skip the honey. The coconut milk’s natural sweetness is enough to add a touch of sweetness without being overwhelming.
  • Add citrus juice. Similar to my Cilantro Lime Rice recipe, you can add a little lemon or lime juice to coconut rice for a burst of fresh citrus flavor. Or, serve lemon or lime wedges along with the rice so you can add as much or as little as you like.
  • Aromatics. I love adding grated fresh ginger to my pot of coconut rice, or you could try ground ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, or curry powder to make a curry coconut rice.
  • Make it dessert. In a riff on mango sticky rice, up the amount of honey (or add sugar) in this coconut milk recipe and turn it into a dessert rice! Add chopped pistachios for crunch along with fresh fruit like mango or pineapple for a different take on a post-dinner treat.
Chicken and broccoli top a bowl of coconut rice.

How To Store Coconut Milk Rice

Rice keeps well for another time, and here’s how to store it:

  • Fridge – Place the cooled rice in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer – Cool the rice and place it in an airtight, freezer-safe container, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Make sure to thaw the rice overnight in the fridge before reheating it.
  • To Reheat – Place the rice in a microwave-safe dish and heat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until hot. Or, heat on the stove. Place the leftover coconut rice in a pot with a few tablespoons of water and heat it, stirring, over low heat until heated through. 
Coconut rice in a white bowl topped with cilantro.

Make It A Meal

Coconut rice is such a fantastically versatile side dish, one of the many reasons I love it! You can pair it with meat, seafood, vegetables, and more. Here are a few suggestions:

Half of a bowl of coconut rice is shown.
5 from 1 vote

Coconut Rice

This easy Coconut Rice recipe infuses fluffy basmati rice with creamy sweetness, making it a flavorful accompaniment for curries and more.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Basmati rice (uncooked)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Rinse and drain the rice under cold water, until the water is clear.
  • In a medium pot, add the rice, coconut milk, water, salt, pepper, and honey. Bring to a boil.
  • Once boiling reduces heat to low, cover, and continue cooking for about 20 minutes.
  • Uncover, stir the rice, and let it rest for 5 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro, and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts
Coconut Rice
Amount Per Serving
Calories 344 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 0.2g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.2g
Sodium 589mg25%
Potassium 112mg3%
Carbohydrates 76g25%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 15IU0%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 29mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

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