Fragrant Creamy Coconut Rice (Printable)

Fragrant jasmine rice simmered in coconut milk with vanilla—a tropical, creamy dessert ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice

01 - 1 cup jasmine rice, rinsed

→ Liquids

02 - 1.5 cups full-fat coconut milk
03 - 1 cup water

→ Sweetener & Flavor

04 - 0.33 cup granulated sugar
05 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Garnish

07 - 2 tablespoons toasted coconut flakes
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mango or pineapple

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed jasmine rice, coconut milk, water, sugar, and salt.
02 - Stir well and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat.
03 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
04 - Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and let stand covered for 5 minutes.
05 - Gently fluff the rice with a fork to separate grains.
06 - Serve warm or at room temperature, topped with toasted coconut flakes and fresh fruit if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It uses just a handful of pantry staples and comes together in thirty minutes without any fuss.
  • The texture is soft and comforting, halfway between rice pudding and a tropical dessert you'd find at a beachside café.
  • You can serve it warm on a cold night or chilled straight from the fridge on a hot afternoon.
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice is not optional, skip it and the finished dish will be gluey instead of tender.
  • If the rice looks dry before it's fully cooked, add a few tablespoons of water or coconut milk and keep simmering with the lid on.
  • Stirring too much while it cooks will release excess starch and turn the whole thing into sticky mush.
03 -
  • Toast your coconut flakes in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden, it only takes a few minutes but the nutty flavor makes a huge difference.
  • If you're using sticky rice instead of jasmine, reduce the liquid slightly and expect a chewier, more traditional texture.
  • Taste the rice after cooking and before serving, you can always stir in a little more sugar or a pinch of salt to get it just right.
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