Coconut Milk Rice Recipe

Method11 steps · about 1 hr

1. 1

   Step 1: Add rice to a bowl and rinse it well thrice. Drain the water.

   Uses 2 cup basmati rice · ample fresh rice rinse and twenty-minute soak water; drain completely

2. 2

   Step 2: Soak the rinsed rice in ample fresh water 20 minutes while preparing other ingredients, then drain completely. Choose one cooking route now: for ordinary pot or stove pressure follow 3–8, then 9 or 10; for Instant Pot skip 3–9 and follow its full alternative in 10.

   Uses ample fresh rice rinse and twenty-minute soak water; drain completely · two cups dry rice rinsed three times

3. 3

   Step 3: Traditional stove route only: heat the oil (2 tbsp) or chosen fat in your pot or pressure cooker. Fry optional cashews (10) over medium heat until golden, remove and reserve for garnish. Keep the existing oil in the pan.

   Uses 2 tbsp oil · 10 cashews

4. 4

   Step 4: Reduce the heat. To the same pot, add whole spices and fry for 30 seconds, until they turn fragrant.

   Uses 1 bay leaf · 4 green cardamom pods · 6 whole cloves · 2 inch cinnamon stick · 1 tsp cumin seeds · ONLY stove route: existing oil after golden cashews removed

   
5. 5

   Step 5: Add ginger garlic paste (2 tsp) and saute for a minute without burning, until it smells fragrant.

   Uses 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste · ONLY stove route: whole spices fried 30 seconds in same oil

6. 6

   Step 6: Add slit green chili (1–2), chopped vegetables and saute for 2 to 3 mins.

   Uses 1–2 green chili · 1 carrot · 1 cup green peas · 6 green beans · ginger-garlic sautéed 1 minute with whole spices

7. 7

   Step 7: Traditional stove route only: add 1½ cups fresh/carton coconut milk (1.5 cup) and 2 cups measured water. For an ordinary pot add the separate extra ½ cup water; omit it for a stove pressure cooker. Add salt, taste and adjust with extra salt only if needed. Other rice may need its usual plain-rice liquid ratio.

   Uses 1.5 cup coconut milk · 2 cup water · 0.75 tsp salt · 0.5 cup water · salt (extra only to taste in cooking liquid) · optional vegetables and chili sautéed 2–3 minutes

8. 8

   Step 8: Drain the water completely from the rice and add it to the pot. Mix well and cover with the lid.

   Uses stove-specific coconut milk/water and salt with aromatics · ONLY stove route: rinsed rice soaked 20 minutes and completely drained

9. 9

   Step 9: Ordinary-pot route only: cook the assembled rice covered over low heat until the liquid is absorbed and rice tender without becoming mushy. If still hard and dry, sprinkle extra warm water and continue. Turn off and rest covered 10 minutes, then fluff gently. Skip pressure route 10 and continue to 11.

   Rest ordinary-pot rice after cooking · 10 minUses warm water (small extra splashes ONLY if ordinary-pot rice remains hard and dry) · ONLY ordinary pot: rice in 1½ cups coconut milk and 2½ cups water

10. 10

    Step 10: Choose only the pressure route selected earlier. For the STOVE pressure cooker, cook the assembled rice over medium heat to one whistle. Let pressure release naturally, open according to cooker instructions and fluff gently; continue to 11. For INSTANT POT, skip traditional 3–9: use Sauté to heat the oil (2 tbsp)/chosen fat in its insert with whole spices. When sizzling, add ginger-garlic, chili, optional cashews (10) and vegetables; sauté 2–3 minutes. Add the drained soaked rice, only 1 cup coconut milk and only 1½ cups water, plus salt. Stir and adjust salt. Secure the lid with valve sealing and pressure-cook HIGH 6 minutes. Let pressure release naturally 7–8 minutes, then release the remaining pressure according to cooker instructions. Open and fluff gently. Use the IP liquid ratio only for the authored two-cup rice batch.

    Instant Pot pressure phase only · 6 minUses Instant Pot ONLY: 1 cup coconut milk, not full stove amount · Instant Pot ONLY: 1½ cups water, not full stove amount · 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste · 1–2 green chili · 1 carrot · 1 cup green peas · 6 green beans · 2 tbsp oil

11. 11

    Step 11: Optionally toast the listed coconut flakes (4 tbsp) or grated coconut until golden. Garnish the finished rice with toasted coconut and the reserved fried cashews for the traditional route; Instant Pot cashews are already cooked in the rice.

    Uses 4 tbsp coconut flakes · ONLY ordinary pot: tender rice rested 10 minutes off heat · ONLY one pressure route: stove cooker OR Instant Pot finished, pressure released · ONLY stove route: same ten cashews fried earlier for garnish