Easy Coconut Rice
Made with coconut milk instead of water, coconut rice is extra fluffy and infused with flavor. The perfect side dish for Thai cuisine or almost any of your favorite recipes!
Fluffy & Creamy Coconut Rice
I am a rice-a-holic: I could eat rice or rice noodles for every meal. One day my husband had the idea to try making rice with coconut milk instead of water…and WOW…I could hardly believe just how fluffy, yet creamy, the result was โย add a squeeze of lime juice and I was in food heaven!
Making coconut rice using a rice maker is SO easy: just two steps and NO measuring required! Now you can have restaurant-style coconut rice at home with no more work than regular rice.
Update 2022: Originally published in May 2015, this is one of the first recipes that we ever created and published on the blog, and it’s still a favorite!
However, since that time, Instant Pots have become super popular and perhaps more common than rice cookers. So we’ve updated the recipe to include directions to prepare coconut rice in an Instant Pot, as well as the rice maker or stove top.
Fluffy and flavorful coconut rice is the perfect side dish for almost any meal! It pairs especially well with Thai dishes, but is delicious with almost any type of food, from chicken to fish! It also is a nice cooling contrast to spicy curry. I could honestly eat this deliciously decadent rice all by itself…by the forkful!
Ingredients
For your convenience Iโve included shop-able ad links to some of the products used to make this recipe; disclosure policy availableย here.
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk
- Chopped Cilantro & Green Onion to taste
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Instructions
This recipe can be made in both a regular rice cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. We’ve included directions for all three methods below.
To Prep: Place dry rice in a large mesh strainer and rinse. Drain well.
Rice Cooker Recipe
- Add 2 cups rice to a rice maker and add 1 can of coconut milk. Do not add water.
- Set rice maker to the “cook” function.
- When the rice is done cooking, scoop into a large bowl and fluff.
- Stir in chopped cilantro and/or green onion to taste.
Instant Pot Coconut Rice Recipe
- Add 2 cups rice, 1 can of coconut milk, and 2 cups water to Instant Pot.
- Stir to combine, then seal the Instant Pot and cook on the rice setting.ย Allow to natural release (about 10 minutes), then remove the lid carefully.
- Scoop rice into a large mixing bowl and add chopped green onion and/or cilantro.
- Stir to fluff and evenly distribute the fresh herbs.
Stove Top Directions
- Add 2 cups rice, 1 can of coconut milk, and 2 cups water to a large saucepan and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove lid and scoop the rice to a large bowl.
- Stir to fluff and mix in chopped herbs.
Prep Tips
- I don’t usually add salt to my rice, but you can add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the rice before cooking if you think that will be more to your taste. For a touch of sweetness, add a teaspoon of sugar to the liquids before cooking.
- If you like extra coconut flavor, garnish with toasted shredded coconut to the cooked rice before serving. It also adds a nice contrast in texture and looks pretty!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use a Different Type of Rice?
Fragrant jasmine rice is commonly used in Thai cuisine. However, you can make this recipe with any type of long-grain white rice (such as basmati rice) and achieve the same consistency. We’ve also made this recipe with short grain and medium grain white rice. You do not need to adjust the ingredients or cooking time when substituting for another type of white rice.
You could also use brown rice, though I have only tried brown rice using the rice cooker method. If using a rice cooker, you shouldn’t need to adjust the ingredients or settings. While I have not personally tried making brown rice in an Instant Pot, it can be done. My sources recommend NOT using the “rice” button for brown rice, but instead to pressure cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
Brown rice can be tricky to cook on the stovetop, so I don’t recommend trying this unless you’re experienced with this preparation.
Can You Use Low Fat Coconut Milk?
For this recipe I recommend sticking with full fat coconut milk. Lite coconut is essentially watered down coconut milk, so it will be lacking the creaminess and richness from the real thing. Plus, coconut milk is generally considered a “good fat!”
You’ll also want to be sure to use canned coconut milk, not coconut milk beverage that is sold in cartons in the milk aisle with other plant-based milks such as almond milk. They are not the same thing and the recipe won’t turn out as expected.
How Long Does Cooked Rice Stay Good in the Fridge?
Any leftovers should be placed in an airtight container and kept refrigerated. Cooked rice will stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat my rice, I make sure it is in a microwave-safe container and I add a tablespoon of water. Then I microwave with the lid cracked (again, make sure the lid is ok to go in the microwave) until the rice is warmed. The extra water helps steam the rice and add back some of the moisture that may have been lost.
Why Do You Rinse Rice Before Cooking?
Rinsing the dry rice before cooking helps to remove excess starch. It’s not the end of the world if you forget this step, but it may create rice that is slightly stickier or even a bit mushy.
More of our Most Popular Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Meat Sauce
- Instant Pot Beef Pho
- Dr. Pepper Instant Pot Meatballs
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Firecracker Chicken
- Instant Pot Sweet & Sour Pork
- Taco Spaghetti (Instant Pot Recipe)
Coconut Rice Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
If you tried this recipe and loved it too, please rate it!
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox.ย Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Soccer Mom Blog
Easy Coconut Rice (w/ Instant Pot Recipe)
Equipment
- Rice Maker
- Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
- Large saucepan for stovetop preparation only
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 1 can coconut milk 14oz can
- Chopped Cilantro & Green Onion to taste
Instructions
To Prep:
- Place dry rice in a large mesh strainer and rinse. Drain well.
Rice Cooker Recipe
- Add 2 cups rice to a rice maker and add 1 can of coconut milk. Do not add water.
- Set rice maker to the "cook" function.
- When the rice is done cooking, scoop into a large bowl and fluff.
- Stir in chopped cilantro and/or green onion to taste.
Instant Pot Recipe
- Add 2 cups rice, 1 can of coconut milk, and 2 cups water to Instant Pot.
- Stir to combine, then seal the Instant Pot and cook on the rice setting.ย Allow to natural release (about 10 minutes), then remove the lid carefully.
- Scoop rice into a large mixing bowl and add chopped green onion and/or cilantro.
- Stir to fluff and evenly distribute the fresh herbs.
Stove Top Directions
- Add 2 cups rice, 1 can of coconut milk, and 2 cups water to a large saucepan and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove lid and scoop the rice to a large bowl.
- Stir to fluff and mix in chopped herbs.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Pin our Fluffy Coconut Rice recipe on Pinterest:
You might also like:
- Homemade Cosmic Brownies - January 15, 2025
- Heart Shaped Cookie Cake - January 10, 2025
- Mini Heart-Shaped Pizzas - January 9, 2025
How long in the instant pot? The rice setting on mine is 4 minutes, I see on your picture it is 10 minutes.
The 10 minutes is about how long natural release takes, but you should be fine to use your rice setting.