A delicious and easy way to transform white rice with a few simple ingredients. Toasted Coconut Rice starts by toasting jasmine rice in oil, cooked in coconut milk, then finished with delicious toasted coconut flakes. 

A grey bowl filled with rice garnished with black sesame seeds

This easy coconut rice recipe is my interpretation of Thai coconut rice (kao mun) from Southeast Asia. It’s a versatile side dish that you can serve with many meat or vegetarian dishes, or you can add vegetables to it. The perfect accompaniment for so many meals.

I recently started cooking more with coconut oil. Not only does it add a delicious, nutty flavor to ingredients like rice and quinoa, but I’ve also learned about its healthy benefits. It can help with many things, from skin and hair to digestion.

Toasted coconut rice viewed from overhead

In this recipe, the use of coconut milk toasts the plain rice before boiling. Toasting the rice before cooking is something I always do so that it takes on a yummy nuttiness. To finish the rice, I add unsweetened toasted coconut just to enhance the coconut flavor and add texture, along with black sesame seeds for a pretty presentation.

Best Rice to Use for Coconut Rice

Any of your favorite white long grain rice, white jasmine rice, or basmati rice will work well. Short grain rice like arborio can also be used, but the excess starch content may result in stickier rice.

Coconut Milk Types

Pure coconut milk is unsweetened and has only natural sweetness. I prefer unsweetened coconut milk (without added sugar) as it is sweet enough, but you can use sweetened if you like. I also prefer full-fat coconut milk for a creamy texture, but you can also use light coconut milk. Cream of coconut or coconut cream, which is very similar, can also be used.

How to Make Jasmine Rice in the Rice Cooker

Toast the rice in the coconut oil, then transfer it to the rice cooker along with the water, coconut milk, and salt. Cooking time may vary, so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

3 skewers of grilled shrimp

Serving Coconut Rice

This is the perfect side dish to accompany Miso Shrimp, Asian-Style Mushrooms, Grilled Korean Beef, stir fries, or any other Asian-inspired dishes.

Storing Leftover Rice

Cooked rice must be handled properly. Allow unused rice cool to room temperature  but must be refrigerated within 2 hours. Store  in an airtight container and use within 4 days.

If you’ve made this Toasted Coconut Rice recipe, please leave a review and star rating.  

Yield: 4

Toasted Coconut Rice

Coconut rice in a bowl with toasted coconut flakes

Jasmine rice toasted in coconut oil, cooked in coconut milk and garnished with toasted coconut.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (30 grams) unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
  • 1 tablespoon flavorless oil
  • 1 cup (180 grams) jasmine rice, rinsed * see note
  • 1 ½ cups (416 ml) water
  • ½ cup unsweetened full fat coconut milk ** see note
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.
  2. Spread the coconut evenly on a sheet/baking tray and toast for about 4-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Keep an eye on it as burns quickly. Shredded will brown faster than flaked. Remove and set aside to cool.
  3. To a saucepan add the oil over medium heat. When hot, stir in the rice until coated and continue to toast and stir until nutty and fragrant, don’t brown. Add the water, coconut milk and salt, bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes until the water is absorbed and rice is fluffy.
  4. Stir in the toasted coconut and garnish with sesame seeds (optional).

Notes

* Any medium or long grain white rice can be used like basmati


* * If the label does not say sweetened or unsweetened, check the ingredients. You can use sweetened if you want a sweeter result. You can also use cream of coconut, coconut cream or light coconut milk

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 263Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 20gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 540mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 2gSugar 1gProtein 3g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.