Fluffy coconut rice eluded me for years. And finally, I’ve cracked it! The trick is to use the oven rather than the stove. The coconut rice comes out super fluffy, not gluey and mushy. It’s 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 into a pot of mushy rice, thick with coconut milk scum. Usually with unevenly cooked rice grains – some hard, some overly soft – and almost always with a scorched base.
The making of my cookbook gave me the excuse I needed to commit to cracking coconut rice, once and for all. 30+ tests later, I’m so happy to say my team and I have cracked the secret code.
And every since then, I’ve never looked back. Fluffy coconut rice every. single. time WITHOUT FAIL!
The secret to fluffy coconut rice – BAKE IT
The trick to fuss-free fluffy coconut rice is to bake it rather than cook it on the stove. The coconut rice comes out perfectly fluffy every time, and no scorched pot!
How to make perfect coconut rice
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.
Soak rice for 1 hour – this essentially gives the rice grains a bit of a head start in the water absorption phase. This is critical to ensure the rice cooks through evenly because coconut milk is thicker than water which makes it harder for the rice grains to absorb the liquid.
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 cup of water (just over 2 1/2 cups) for 2 cups of rice.
Bring coconut milk and water to boil first – This is quite key as well! We need to heat the liquid before adding into the rice in a baking pan to get the cooking process started as soon as the rice is in the oven.
If you just pour cold water and room temperature coconut milk over the rice, it takes a good 10 to 15 minutes for the liquid to heat up in the oven during which time the rice is just wallowing in lukewarm liquids which causes it to bloat and cook unevenly.
Bake, covered with foil, for 40 minutes at 200°C/400°F (180°C fan). By covering the rice, we are essentially making steam rice just like you do on the stove. Except, we don’t to worry about scorching the base of the pot and the heat distributes much more evenly through the rice so it cooks through evenly!
Rest 15 minutes – Take the pan out of the oven and rest, covered in foil, for 15 minutes. This step is essential so do not skip it or shortcut the resting time. During the resting time, the rice will finish cooking through evenly and the wetness on the surface of the rice grains will be absorbed, leaving the rice fluffy.
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. Just pop it in the oven and leave it to do its thing!
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 coconut milk powder option: There’s another way to make fluffy coconut rice on the stove using coconut milk powder. The result is not quite as fluffy as using the oven and the coconut flavour is not quite as intense. But it’s still very good, much better than stove-top using coconut milk, and a good option for those times when you don’t have an oven.
I’ve popped that extra recipe below the coconut milk recipe (ie scroll to bottom of post). It’s an extra because 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 with coconut rice
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…
Everything Thai and Vietnamese
Jamaican Jerk Chicken and Jerk Fish
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Restaurant Style Coconut Rice (Coconut Milk)
Ingredients
Coconut Rice
- 2 cups jasmine rice (Note 1)
- 400 ml / 14 oz coconut milk , full fat or light (Note 2)
- 1 cup water
- 5 tsp white sugar (Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp cooking / kosher salt
Asian Restaurant Style flavour – use ONE:
- 1 pandan leaves , knotted
- 2 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)
- Soak & drain – Drain rice then soak in water for 1 hour. Then drain in a colander and leave to drain well for 5 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 200°C / 400°F (180°C fan).
- Rice in pan – Place the rice in a 20cm / 8" square pan (metal or ceramic). Add pandam or kaffir, if using.
- Heat coconut milk – Heat coconut milk, water, sugar and salt in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil and stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Bake 40 minutes – Working quickly (to minimise heat loss), pour hot liquid over rice, stir quickly to spread rice evenly. Cover with foil then bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
- Rest 15 minutes – Remove the pan from the oven. Take a quick peek to ensure the liquid has been absorbed (tilt pan to check). There will be coconut cream on the surface – that's normal. Rest rice, covered, for 15 minutes. Do not shortcut this!
- Fluff with rubber spatula. Garnish with toasted coconut, if using, then serve. Marvel at fluffy rice!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
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Fluffy 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 – OPTIONAL, for Asian restaurant style
- 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.
Hi Nagi, this worked so well! Honestly I’ve used a number of your recipes now and they’ll all so amazing (the buffalo wings for example have me very popular with my friends!)
Thanks for the great work I’m excited to keep going through your wonderful recipes!
This is an amazing recipe, I had basmati rice so used that, with coconut milk. I followed the recipe to the letter, except at the end when the rice only needed simmering for 8 minutes rather than 14 minutes. Also I soaked the rice for 20 minutes at the start rather than 15 minutes as I saw someone’s comment that their rice came out crunchy after only soaking for 15 minutes. But maybe that’s why my rice only needed to simmer for 8 minutes! Rice was very tasty and fragrant. Thank you!!
I cannot cook rice. I’ve tried so many different recipies from different sources and always failed miserable until now! This rice turned out perfectly. I am so happy I came across this 😀 Thank you so much!
Hi, just wanted to point out spelling mistake. The ‘pandam’ in your recipe is actually spelled ‘pandan’. This will help others find the ingredients in the shop 🙂
Thanks for picking that up Matilda – proof I’m only human! I’ll fix now. N x
Is it possible to make this in the rice cooker?
Hi Wendy, I imagine so but I haven’t tested it to be sure – would love to know if you try it! N x
Fantastic! Will definitely make again and again and again…..
This was amazing!!!! I used the coconut creme powder method with basmati rice in the instant pot (rice setting).
So easy & it turned out fabulous! Thank you!!!
That’s great to know Kavita! N x
This is the first recipe of yours that hasn’t worked for me 😫 I just can’t cook rice. I followed all the steps and then went to taste the rice at the end – it was still completely raw! I timed everything. I don’t know how I stuffed it up 😂
Hi Freya, that doesn’t sounds right at all and it should definitely not be raw. Try turning up the heat a little 🙂 N x
Hi Nagi. I have notived the coconut milk comes in many different fat variations. I have seen anything form 6 to +20%. The fatter the thicker, what is your percentage 🙂 ? And do you have any recommendations if I want to try this with whole grain rice or thai sticky rice ?
Hi Matthias, I talk about the rice types in the recipe notes that this recipe is suitable for. Our coconut milk typically comes in full fat or light here – and ranged from 12-20% fat, both will work in this recipe 🙂 N x
Nagi
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. This is the ONLY coconut rice that I HAVE made that actually comes out perfect! Do you know hoe to revise it for the instant pot?
Hi Nagi
I’ve used coconut cream instead of milk. That’s all l had in the pantry……hope it works.
Alicia from Canberra here. Dropping in to say this recipe is GREAT! PERFECT ratio of everything. I could eat bowls of it, just on it’s own.
Discovered it goes really well with steamed salmon ( and some soy sauce drizzled on top)
Excellent. Love your recipes!
Thank you so much Nagi,
I have been swearing by your recipes to family and friends for the past 12 months and made this for the first time tonight. Instead of skewers I used your method of velveting chicken and added capsicum and beans to this sauce as a stir fry. I also paired it with your coconut rice recipe (which is now a regular in our house) It was absolutely divine! Keep those recipes coming! 🙂
Sorry this was supposed to be posted on your satay skewers link but I had both open to cook tonight haha
Hi Nagi,
First time I’ve cooked rice in this way and it turned out perfect.
Love it not stuck to the bottom of the pan and perfectly cooked
Love your recipes slowly going through the ones i like
Fantastic.
Nailed it Mark!! N x
Two different soak times listed, one says 15 minutes and the other says 20. I didn’t notice this until after I’d made it and it was a little crunchy. Guessing the extra 5 minutes is the key.
Can this recipe be adapted for a rice cooker?
I’m following your instructions but it’s a process. For a faster return, it would be fabulous if we could get this fluffy rice from a cooker. (I have the brand that Ming Sai uses.)
Hi Ronda, I haven’t tried to be honest, would love to know if it works! 🙂 N x
Re step 5 in coconut rice recipe….how long to cook on reduced heat after covering?
Hi Warren – 14 minutes as per the recipe. Enjoy! N x
Thanks….I was referring to the heading “Here’s the secret to fluffy coconut rice”….theres no time stated in step 5…….all good 👍
I thought I’d try out the powdered milk version in the rice cooker and it doesn’t work. It was hard and looked messy with that coconut milk “scum”. Maybe if the rice is soaked or there is extra water it may work. I’ll try stove top next time. I know that will be great 🙂
So I’ve never made coconut rice before and most recipes I found asked for the can of milk but yours had for powder also! I figured why not!? It came out beautifully, no sticky rice, no burnt rice and very delicious!
I’m so glad you gave it a go Kristyn!!!
Hello Nagi,
Looking forward to trying this recipe with the chickpea curry!
The basmati rice I have takes 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice, how much coconut milk/water combo should I use in this case?
Hi Yasmeen, this recipe works with basmati – just follow the recipe exactly – N x
I was a little bit impatient and tried the recipe before I got your reply 😅
I used the same liquid amount stated but 1.75 cup rice instead of 2. It was perfectly fluffy!
I unfortunately don’t have access to kafir or pandam leaves where I live, but I’m sure they would have added a great flavor. Thanks for a great and easy to follow recipe 🙂
My husband fell in love with coconut rice when he was working in Trinidad. He brought home several packets of coconut milk powder. I had no idea how to use it, until I saw this recipe. It’s perfect and so flavorful! He gave it a BIG two thumbs up. Now I’m trying to find out where the purchase more of the powder! Thank you for posting this recipe with two versions. At some point, I will probably try the other one, but the powder made it so easy, it may take awhile!
Hi Melanie, now you can still make it even if you can’t find the powder – I’m so glad you love it!