Fluffy Coconut Rice (Printable)

Creamy coconut-infused rice ready in 25 minutes, ideal as a fragrant tropical side dish for curries and grilled entrées.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice

01 - 1 cup jasmine rice or long-grain white rice

→ Coconut Mixture

02 - 1 cup full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
03 - 1 cup water
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 teaspoon sugar

→ Garnish

06 - 2 tablespoons toasted coconut flakes
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or scallions

# Directions:

01 - Rinse the jasmine rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain thoroughly to remove excess starch.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, coconut milk, water, salt, and sugar. Stir gently until everything is well incorporated.
03 - Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil, watching carefully to prevent overflow.
04 - Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan tightly with a lid. Simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid to ensure proper steaming.
05 - Remove the saucepan from heat and let it sit, still covered, for 10 minutes. This resting period allows the rice to finish cooking and become fluffy.
06 - Gently fluff the rice with a fork, being careful not to mash the grains. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with toasted coconut flakes and fresh cilantro or scallions if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The rice comes out impossibly fluffy every single time, never gummy or stuck together
  • It transforms any ordinary weeknight dinner into something that feels like a tropical vacation
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and actually taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Never skip rinsing the rice because it will turn into a sticky, gummy mess instead of light and fluffy grains
  • Lifting the lid during cooking releases crucial steam and will ruin the texture completely
  • Letting the rice rest off the heat is just as important as the cooking time itself
03 -
  • Shake the can of coconut milk well before opening to redistribute the cream and liquid
  • If the rice absorbs all the liquid before finishing cooking, add hot water one tablespoon at a time

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