This easy coconut rice is fluffy, flavor and easy to make at home in under 30 minutes! All you need is a few ingredients to make perfect coconut jasmine rice for a simple side dish.
Love rice recipes? Try fried rice, cilantro lime rice or this Mexican rice recipe!
Table of Contents
Stovetop Coconut Rice
This coconut rice recipe is an easy way to jazz up your everyday white rice. The rice has a delicate coconut flavor without becoming too overwhelming. It’s slightly sweet, light, fluffy, and pairs well with your Asian-inspired dishes.
If you’ve ever had Thai or Indian food, you may have had the pleasure of having this creamy coconut rice, it’s often used to jazz up pineapple fried rice. We love to serve this with butter chicken, my chicken tikka masala recipe, bang bang shrimp recipe or kung pao shrimp.
Why I Love This Coconut Rice
- Simple ingredients: Enjoy restaurant-style coconut rice at home on a budget with just 4 ingredients. Top it off with a bit of toasted coconut if you’re feeling fancy!
- Easy to make: Knowing how to cook rice on the stove is not hard, but it does take a bit of know-how so it doesn’t turn out gluey or mushy. Just follow my tips!
Recipe Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.
- Jasmine rice: Native to Thailand, this long-grain rice provides a buttery backdrop to the tropical coconut flavor.
- Coconut milk: Extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts, this rich milk adds a creaminess and elevates any rice dish.
- Water: Very important to help the rice cook and soften.
- Salt: A little bit of salt helps enhance the flavor of the rice and coconut milk.
Variations
- If you like rice with coconut milk a little sweeter, add in sugar with the coconut and wate. Keep in mind, better quality coconut milk will always be a bit sweeter, so you may find you don’t need added sugar depending on the brand.
- You can use full fat or light coconut milk, depending on your preference.
- Jasmine rice is great for this recipe, but you can also use basmati or long-grain white rice.
- Brown rice can be used in place of white, however, the cooking time will be longer
- Chopped cilantro and lime are a nice addition and would be a vibrant balance to the otherwise sweet coconut.
How to Make Coconut Rice
- Add ingredients to pot. Over medium heat, add water, coconut milk, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add in the rice, then stir one time.
- Bring to boil. Let set and bring to a boil. If you would like to sweeten your rice, add in 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar.
- Cover and simmer. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. Simmer for about 17 to 20 minutes. During this time, do not remove the lid while it is cooking.
- Fluff the rice. Remove the lid and allow for the water to evaporate. This will take a few minutes. When ready to serve, use a fork and gently fluff the rice.
Tips for the Best Coconut Rice
- Rinse your rice well. The secret to a light and fluffy (and not clumpy) easy coconut rice recipe is getting rid of the extra starch that it comes with.
- Cans of coconut milk can be found at your local grocery store, sometimes found in the “international food” section. Thai Kitchen is a great brand that doesn’t come with a bunch of unnecessary additives.
- Fluff and season. After your rice is done cooking, fluff the rice gently with a fork and then place the lid back on for 1-2 minutes. Then season to taste.
Serving Recommendations
This easy, creamy coconut rice is one of our favorite side dishes!
- Add-ins: Diced avocado, beans (black or kidney beans), diced bell pepper (probably red, orange, or yellow as they are the sweetest), or pineapple chunks would all be great options to try.
- With a protein: Grilled salmon, kalua pork, teriyaki meatballs or Asian meatballs.
- Asian-inspired main: Try Instant Pot chicken teriyaki or my kids love it with Hawaiian haystacks.
Try this rice with these other Asian-inspired dinner ideas including chicken and vegetable stir fry or sweet and sour chicken recipe.
More Asian-Inspired Recipes
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Coconut Rice
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , plus more to taste
- 1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
- 1-2 teaspoons granulated sugar , optional
- 2 cups Jasmine rice , rinsed
- Ground black pepper , to taste (optional)
Optional: Toasted coconut, Chopped parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Combine. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together 1 1/2 cups water, 1 can coconut milk, 1 teaspoon salt, and optional sugar, if using for added sweetness. Add 2 cups rice and then stir once. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer. Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Simmer, without lifting the lid, for 17 to 20 minutes.
- Fluff. Remove the lid and allow the water to evaporate a few minutes. Just before serving, gently fluff the rice with a fork. Salt and pepper, to taste. Top with coconut and herbs, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Place all ingredients together in the rice cooker. Stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. Cover the rice cooker with the lid and set it at COOK.
After it has cooked and setting is at WARM, let the coconut rice sit for 8 to 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork or using chop sticks to stir the rice with out sticking together.
Yes! With an Instant Pot you only need to use 3/4 cup water. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes long. Then use the natural release for 5 to 10 minutes. The longer it sits, the fluffier the rice will become.
There could be two reasons. It is best to use only long grain white rice or Jasmine rice. Other rice varieties will cook at longer times. Don’t skip rinsing or soaking your rice. This will help remove starches that coat the grain and could cause your rice to turn out mushy or gooey.
Leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove or microwave with a splash of liquid.
Cool rice completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer safe bag. Freeze rice up to 3 months. To serve, thaw rice in the refrigerator then reheat in the microwave. If your rice seems dry, add a splash of water or reheat covered with a damp paper towel.
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, Asian, Dairy-Free, One Pot, Rice, Side Dishes, Stovetop, Vegan, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Could you substitute long grain rice?
Hi Norma! Yes, you can :)
Coconut Rice is another staple at our house. It pairs well with so many entrees.!
We love using coconut rice over regular rice. It’s definitely more flavorful & fluffy! It’s super easy too!
It is hard to go back to just regular white rice after eating this! Love the flavor & it really is so fluffy!!
I love this coconut rice recipe! So easy to make and tasted so delicious! Highly recommended! Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe!