Yellow Coconut Rice

turmeric-gold rice steamed in coconut milk with whole spice, the standing partner to ball curry

egg freegluten freenut freevegetarian
Yellow Coconut Rice
Photo: Andy Li · CC0
Prep10 min
Cook25 min
Active35 min
Plus20 min soaking
Serves4
Difficultyeasy
Per serving568 kcal

Allergens in Yellow Coconut Rice: milk.

Ingredients

Quantities for 4.

  • 300g, rinsed and drained Basmati Rice
  • 400ml Coconut Milk
  • 200ml Water
  • 1 tsp Turmericfor the colour the dish is named after
  • 1 medium, thinly sliced Onion
  • 4 Cloves
  • 1 piece, 5cm Cinnamon
  • 1 Bay Leafoptional
  • 1/2 tsp, whole Black Pepperoptional
  • 2 tbsp Gheeor coconut oil
  • 1 tsp Sugaroptional
  • 2 tbsp Raisinsthe Calcutta touch, optionaloptional
  • 3/4 tsp Salt

Cookware

stovetop

Checked against the ingredient list for ten allergens: milk, egg, fish, crustaceans, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, mustard, soy and gluten. Brands vary, so read the label on anything new to you.

Before you start

  • Rinse the rice in three changes of water until it runs clear, then leave it to drain in a sieve for 20 minutes. Do not soak it: coconut milk rice goes sticky if the grain is waterlogged.
  • Measure the liquid exactly. Coconut milk is thicker than water, so the usual eyeballing does not work here.
  • Have a tight lid ready. This rice is steamed, not boiled.

Method

  1. Heat the ghee in a heavy pan and fry the cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf and peppercorns for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Add the sliced onion and cook until pale gold and soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Lift out a spoonful to scatter over later.Gold, not brown. Dark onion muddies the yellow.
  3. Stir in the turmeric and fry 20 seconds, then add the raisins if using.
  4. Tip in the drained rice and turn it in the fat for 2 minutes, until every grain is coated and glossy.
  5. Pour in the coconut milk and water, add the salt and sugar, and bring to a boil.
  6. As soon as it boils, drop the heat to the lowest setting, cover tightly and cook 12 minutes without lifting the lid.Lifting the lid lets out the steam that is doing the cooking. Trust the clock.
  7. Take the pan off the heat and leave it covered for 10 minutes more.
  8. Fork the grains apart gently from the edge inwards, scatter the reserved onion over and serve.Fork, never spoon. A spoon crushes coconut-milk rice into paste.

Storage

Keeps 2 days refrigerated. Reheat covered with a tablespoon of water over low heat or in a steamer; it dries out badly in a microwave.

Nutrition Medium estimate

One serving of Yellow Coconut Rice (270 g) is about 568 calories, or 211 calories per 100 g.

Low protein: 8 g a serving, 6% of the calories

Per serving270 gPer 100 g
Calories568 kcal211 kcal
Protein8.1 g3 g
Carbohydrate73.3 g27 g
of which sugars7.3 g3 g
Fibre2.0 g1 g
Fat28.3 g10 g
of which saturated23.0 g8 g
of which unsaturated3.5 g1 g

Ingredients given to taste count as zero, so the real figures run a little higher. Estimated from raw ingredients using USDA FoodData Central.

Times, yields, allergens and nutrition are guidance. Use your own judgement on doneness and on storing. More in About.