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Once you learn how to make my family’s favorite creamy coconut milk rice recipe, it’ll be the only rice you ever make! It’s fluffy, never mushy, and always flavorful.
If you need more rice and grain recipes, try my rice salad, curry fried rice, or Instant Pot sushi rice next!
Table of Contents
I am the kind of person who could have rice with every meal. Maybe it’s because I was raised eating rice every day, or maybe it’s because it’s a low-effort side. Either way, I’m happy I got family on board.
While I love plain basmati rice, making rice with coconut milk has become our preferred method. The taste is simple, so it’s versatile, and the texture is far superior.
Why I love this recipe
- Simple ingredients. You don’t even need spices, garlic, oil, nada.
- Ready in under 20 minutes. And you’re guaranteed the same results every time.
- Easy to adjust the amount. Once you learn the ratios, you can make a half batch or double batch, depending on how many people you’re feeding.
- The best rice for meal prep. Since it’s slightly creamy, it doesn’t become dry and hard like traditional rice, and it reheats like a dream.
Key ingredients
- Basmati rice. This is my preferred rice to use for this recipe, though I left some tips below in case you want to use brown rice or jasmine rice. Rinse the rice and soak it in cold water for 30 minutes to rinse the excess starch.
- Canned coconut milk. I use canned coconut cream, so it’s thicker and creamier.
- Sugar. To give the rice a subtle sweet flavor.
- Salt. A pinch of salt to balance all flavors.
- Water. As coconut milk is too thick, mixing it with water helps cook the rice grains evenly.
How to make coconut milk rice
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prepare the rice. Rinse the rice under cold water.
Step 2- Cook. Stir together all of the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 3- Rest and serve. Remove the pan from the heat, let it sit (with the lid on) briefly, then fluff with a fork.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Use other types of long-grain rice. I also tested this recipe with brown basmati rice and jasmine rice, and both worked well. Make sure to add an extra ½ cup of water or milk for brown rice, as it absorbs more liquid than white rice.
- Use full-fat coconut milk. For the best texture and flavor, avoid low-fat coconut milk.
- Don’t rinse the rice too much. This can yield gluey, thick rice. A simple, quick rinse is fine.
- No touching! I know it may be tempting to lift the lid as the rice is cooking, but it’s important you don’t! The rice needs plenty of steam to cook evenly. This goes for after it’s been removed from the heat, too.
- Cut the recipe in half. Make a smaller batch with ½ cup of rice, ½ cup of milk, ¼ cup of water, and your desired flavorings.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you have a rice cooker, simply add all of the ingredients to it and follow the instructions on the cooker based on how much rice and liquid you’ve added.
I like to serve my coconut rice with Thai-inspired dishes, like chicken curry with coconut milk or satay chicken, though it’s perfect for any cuisine, like beef bulgogi, chicken katsu, or chana masala.
Coconut Milk Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice white or brown
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Lightly rinse the rice for 30 seconds to one minute.
- In a saucepan, add the coconut milk, water, sugar, and salt, and give it a stir. Add the rice.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat. Once bubbles start to appear around the sides, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Let everything simmer for 15 minutes.
- Take the saucepan off the heat. Let it sit for 10 minutes before fluffing the rice with a fork.
Notes
Nutrition
More easy side dishes
- Couscous
- Great northern beans
- Air fryer red potatoes
- Sautéed Brussels sprouts
- Or any of these side dish recipes
Originally updated July 2023, updated and republished January 2025
as much as I *LOVE* NYC – I do, I really REALLY do – I do not ever wish to be there for NYE. massive crowds concentrated in one place, not moving, in the cold, have never been my thing. ha!
coconut rice is best. I sometimes cook quinoa in coconut milk. oatmeal too. this looks SO GOOD.
Can we meet at Times Square? I’ll bring a kodak.
Hey Arman, this looks like a top notch yummy rice dish. We are both looking at this and saying “awesome – let’s make it!”. Saved!
Greg, you are far too kind- Thanks for your comment mate!
Thanks so much, Greg!
Love the addition of the curry seasonings and the coconut milk. It reminds me of when I eat Middle Eastern cooking, except they have some slivered and toasted almonds in there. The added crunch is just perfect. This looks fantastic as is though. Great idea, and beautiful pictures.
Oh man, another recipe I need to share from mum’s kitchen- ‘Addas pollo’ (google it!)- It’s a vegetarian basmati rice with lentils, raisins and slivered almonds in it!
Oh god, I hate NYE events like fireworks etc. All that queueing up for hours for a few minutes of excitements. Blergh. I’m hopefully going to NYC in July – I can’t wait!!
LOL. You can start lining up then! 😉
I don’t have any NYE tradition except trying to make myself stay awake, failing and then waking up at like 1:30AM, wishing myself a happy New Year, knocking back some alcohol and going back to sleep. Cheers!
I hope you achieved that!
I can’t even tell you how many NYE I’ve had where I couldn’t feel my feet because of the cold. Canada is no joke! I did always want to experience it in NYC, though… I imagine it’s a lot less cold.
And you know I’m all over the coconut basmati rice, so this is right up my alley. I appreciate it a lot more than the black eyed peas NYE tradition that is apparently a thing. I think I’ll pass on that and just listen to some BEP music instead…
Compared to Canada, I bet the NYC location would be like Summer!
YES- I totally had you in mind with this- Now we need you to try curry!
The idea of standing outside in the cold on NYE is SO not appealing to me, so I’ve always avoided it. But I’m getting roped into it this year in Niagara Falls. I think we’ll only be outside for less than an hour though, so hopefully it won’t be totally unbearable.
Love coconut basmati rice and your twist on it!
Ohhhh wow. I need to be filled in on this, I LOVE Niagara Falls (I had an obsession with them when I was 8….).
I’m pretty sure I could eat this by the bowl, Arman! It looks delicious. In fact, if the clock hits midnight and you can’t find me, then look in the kitchen…I may or may not be housing some of this awesome coconut rice. Happy (early) New Year!
Hope you didn’t go to Times Square 😉
This would be epic with a curry. Damn, I want a curry now!
What you need to do is put this in a blender with 80 packets of stevia, then toss some sprinkles on top – Boom! Ice cream! Or whatever the f we want to call it.
….. I am so confused.
Notgonnalie, the thought of NYC on NYE scares me a wee bit. Can we go there together and eat matzo ball soup at Katz Deli puh-leeeeease?! This rice…I need it…on chickpeas.
YES. Well, we shall go to KATZ but to eat their pastrami sandwich. SO. MUCH. MEAT. (You can eat the pickle).
coconut milk and rice sound like an awesome combo! Especially with all of those spices in there too! Hope you have a great new year!
You too!!! Looking forward to what recipes you bring out this new year!
There’s no way I could survive the NYE crowd in NYC. I’d need my personal space. My family’s tradition is to make the most horrible meal ever, one that includes sauerkraut. I haven’t been home for that meal in years, and I will maintain my exodus as long as they continue to prepare it. Also, once midnight hits, Dad fires a few rounds of his shotgun because we are proper Tennessee rednecks.
Dude, sauerkraut is delicious- especially if it’s extra salty and you wake up with a puffy face the next day.
And no WAY. Add hanging with you on NYE to the list. After crossfit.