Coconut Rice Recipe – How To Make Coconut Milk Rice (VIDEO)

If there may be one dish I like cooking time and again, it’s Nigerian Coconut Rice. You may be shocked {that a} Rice recipe this easy has a lot taste.

Aromatic coconut shrimp rice with a hint of tropical paradise

My Go-To Nigerian Coconut Rice Recipe

I first shared my recipe for coconut rice on this weblog 9 years in the past. My long-time readers will know that I used my mother’s recipe! Though my mother’s recipe concerned reducing up an entire hen into items, I went the shorter route by utilizing hen thighs.

Through the years, I’ve revamped the recipe. This time, I adjusted the coconut milk-to-broth ratio. I additionally discovered the significance of sautéing veggies and cooking the shrimp individually earlier than mixing all of them collectively.

These would possibly seem to be little modifications, however belief me, they actually enhanced the depth of taste within the coconut rice.

What Is Nigerian Coconut Rice?

Nigerian coconut rice is a well-liked dish made by cooking rice in coconut milk, wealthy broth, and spices.

The Nigerian model is barely spicy and savory, because of the sautéed onions, crayfish, garlic, ginger, curry powder, and thyme. These substances give it a signature daring style.

Slightly quantity of crayfish is normally utilized in most houses and I exploit it too as a result of it does elevate the flavour of the coconut rice. If you do not have crayfish, do not let that cease you from making this recipe. You’ll be able to skip it.

Creamy coconut shrimp rice dish with a hint of tropical flavor

Why This Nigerian Coconut Rice is Particular

Whereas coconut rice exists in lots of cultures, some variations are too candy or overly coconut-flavored. The Nigerian model stands out for its distinctive depth and savory profile. The Nigerian Coconut Rice is distinctly savory, wealthy, and infrequently carries a delicate spicy kick.

It is all about infusing the rice with not simply coconut milk, but in addition savory broth and crayfish. That is the key!

If you wish to discover extra rice recipes past coconut rice, there’s an entire world of flavors to strive. From the smoky Nigerian jollof rice to fried rice, easy plain white rice served with hearty stews, native rice, ofada rice with ayamase sauce, and saffron rice. You’ll be able to change up your weekly meal plan and add completely different rice recipes.

Coconut milk

Historically, we use recent coconut milk for this recipe, which requires breaking recent coconuts to extract the milk. If in case you have the time, you are able to do that. I’ve a information on how to try this right here. Nonetheless, if you find yourself in need of time or simply do not feel like going by that route, I’ll advise utilizing full-fat coconut milk. It has a wealthy, coconut taste in comparison with the sunshine model.

The canned coconut milk works finest for this recipe, not those within the chilly milk part.

Coconut shrimp rice with a creamy and aromatic sauce, anyone will enjoy this.

Substances For Making Coconut Rice

Rice is the principle ingredient. For the meals to return out properly, I choose to make use of long-grain or basmati rice.
Coconut milk provides a wealthy taste to rice. You need to use freshly extracted or full-fat canned coconut milk.
Rooster or vegetable inventory (or water): The seasoned hen inventory enhances the flavour of the rice.
Bell pepper: provides colour, crunch, and a gentle sweetness to the completed dish.
Crayfish: Brings a smoky seafood taste that elevates the coconut rice.
Coconut Oil: enhances the coconut aroma and provides the dish a silky texture.
Shrimps: function additional protein, making the dish extra interesting.
Seasonings: add salt for style, thyme, and curry powder for a touch of spice.
Habanero: Jalapenos or some other sizzling/mildly sizzling peppers will also be used instead of habaneros. To not fear, the warmth can simply be managed by utilizing much less habaneros or just take away the seeds.

The way to make Coconut Rice

Put together the Rooster/Turkey: Rinse totally and season with onion, scotch bonnet, ginger, garlic, thyme, curry powder, bouillon, salt, and bay leaf. Cook dinner with water till tender, then separate the hen from the inventory. Air-fry or pan-fry the meat for a crispy end.
Cook dinner the Rice: Sauté the onion in coconut oil till translucent. Add the crayfish and blended tatashe and habanero peppers. Pour within the coconut milk and the reserved hen inventory. Add the washed rice, cowl, and cook dinner on low warmth till achieved (about 20 minutes).
Put together Shrimp and Bell Peppers: Season cleaned shrimp with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Pan-fry shrimp in coconut oil till cooked, then put aside. Stir-fry diced bell peppers till barely tender, then mix with the fried hen/turkey.
Mix and Serve: Gently stir the bell pepper, hen, and shrimp combination into the cooked rice. Combine properly and serve sizzling.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

1. Can I exploit coconut cream as an alternative of coconut milk?
Sure, however I’ll suggest that you simply skinny it out with water or inventory to forestall the rice from being too creamy or heavy.

2. Why is my coconut rice mushy?
An excessive amount of liquid or not rinsing the rice correctly could cause mushiness. Don’t add an excessive amount of water originally. You’ll be able to add extra water step by step till it’s delicate sufficient

3. Can I make coconut rice with brown rice?
You need to use brown rice, nevertheless it takes longer to cook dinner. To melt it, you have to to extend the cooking time and the liquid barely.

5. Can I make coconut rice forward of time?
Completely. Reheat gently with a splash of water or coconut milk to revive moisture.

The way to Retailer Coconut Rice

Enable the rice to chill utterly earlier than storing. After this, switch it into an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 3–4 days. If you wish to retailer it for an extended interval, freeze it in portioned hermetic luggage or containers for as much as 2 months.

To reheat, sprinkle somewhat water or coconut milk over the rice and heat in a microwave or on the stovetop over low warmth, stirring sometimes to forestall drying out.

The way to Serve Coconut Rice

Pair it with spicy tomato stew, grilled hen, or fried fish for a basic Nigerian-style meal.
Serve alongside prawns, shrimp stir-fry, or vegetable sauce for a lighter possibility.
Add fried plantains and a recent facet salad to finish the plate.
Serve it as a part of a celebration rice platter with jollof and fried rice.

Different rice recipes you would possibly wish to strive:

Notes

Suggestions for Good Coconut Rice

Use recent or full-fat coconut milk for essentially the most decadent taste.
Rinse rice totally earlier than cooking to take away extra starch and stop stickiness.
Use basmati or long-grain rice for fluffy outcomes; short-grain rice tends to clump. Word: For this recipe, I used basmati rice; nonetheless, you should use any kind of rice you want however notice that cooking time varies for several types of rice.
Cook dinner over low warmth after including rice to keep away from burning and permit for even liquid absorption.
Don’t over-stir whereas cooking to maintain the rice grains intact.

Different rice recipes you would possibly wish to strive:

**This coconut Rice recipe can simply be divided to serve a lesser variety of individuals and will also be doubled to serve a bigger group. Completely satisfied cooking!

For the Rooster

1.5 kilos turkey wings or hen quarters minimize into smaller sizes
1 onion diced (divided for hen and rice)
1 scotch bonnet Ata Rodo
1 teaspoon minced ginger
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoon bouillon powder
Salt to style
1 bay leaf
2 cups water

For the Rice

3 tablespoon coconut oil or some other cooking oil
Remaining diced onion
1 habanero minced
½ cup tatashe or some other savory, non-spicy pepper
2 tablespoons crayfish
3 cups rice
2 cups coconut milk
2 cups hen inventory from the boiled hen
1 cup combined bell peppers diced (inexperienced, yellow, and crimson)

For the Shrimp

1 lb shrimp cleaned and deveined
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
Salt to style
2 tablespoon coconut oil

Put together the Rooster

Rinse the turkey or hen items totally.
Add them to a pot with half the diced onion, scotch bonnet, minced ginger, garlic, thyme, curry powder, bouillon powder, salt, and bay leaf. Stir every part collectively.
Pour within the water and stir. Cowl and cook dinner over medium warmth till the meat is tender (about quarter-hour).
As soon as cooked, separate the turkey from the inventory. Set each apart.
Switch the turkey/hen to an air fryer or pan-fry in a shallow oil.

Cook dinner the Rice

In a clear pot, preheat coconut oil over medium warmth. Add the remaining diced onion and stir-fry till translucent. Stir within the crayfish, roughly blended tatashe, and habanero.
Pour within the coconut milk and the reserved hen inventory. Deliver the combination to a boil. Add the washed and drained rice, then cut back the warmth to low, cowl, and cook dinner till the rice is completed, roughly 20 minutes.
Put together the Shrimp and Bell Peppers
Whereas the rice is cooking, season the cleaned shrimp with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
Warmth coconut oil in a pan over medium warmth. Add the seasoned shrimp and pan fry on either side till cooked by, about 2 to three minutes. Take away and put aside.
In the identical pan, if wanted, add somewhat extra oil. Add the diced bell peppers and stir-fry till barely tender-crisp. Add the air-fried (or pan-fried) turkey/hen to the bell peppers and stir to mix. Take away from warmth.

Mix and Serve

As soon as the rice is cooked, gently stir within the bell pepper and hen combination, together with the cooked shrimp.
Stir every part collectively till properly mixed. Serve sizzling.

You’ll want to rinse the rice earlier than cooking it. This can cut back the starch content material within the rice a bit.
Cook dinner the rice on a low simmer to forestall it from burning
The can coconut milk works finest for this recipe not those within the chilly milk part.
For this recipe, I used basmati rice, nonetheless, you should use any kind of rice you want however notice that cooking time varies for several types of rice.

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When you make this Coconut Rice, I’d like to see footage of your creations on Instagram or Fb. #cheflolaskitchen