There are so many ways to flavor rice and today we’re featuring coconut! This Coconut Rice recipe (Thengai Sadam in Tamil) can be made with fresh rice or is a perfect way to use of leftover rice. Give yourself a break after the big holiday weekend and make simple, delicious Coconut Rice!
Prep Time: 20 mins to make rice
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
Rice – 1 cup cooked with 2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt
Coconut Oil – 1 Tbsp
Mustard Seeds – 1/2 tsp
Chana Daal – 1 Tbsp
Cashews – 1/4 cup, whole or broken
Urad Daal – 1 Tbsp
Dry Red Chilies – to taste, broken
Asafoetida – 1/8 tsp
Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
Fresh Coconut – 1/2 cup, finely shredded
Method:
1. If making fresh rice, spread out rice on a plate immediately after cooking to prevent clumping.
2. Heat Coconut Oil in a pan on medium heat.
3. Add Mustard Seeds and allow them to pop.
4. Add Chana Daal and cook for 30 seconds.
5. Add Cashews and cook until they turn a light golden color.
6. Add Urad Daal, Dry Red Chilies, Curry Leaves and Asafoetida. Mix.
7. Add Coconut and cook until it changes to light golden color.
8. Add cooked rice and toss until well coated and heated through.
9. Serve hot with yogurt or pickle.
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Hello. remarkable job. I did not expect this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!
I made this dish yesterday with aloo gobi and muhrg chicken, my boyfriend who is an executive chef was blown away! It really was a spectacular dinner. Thank you both for the best recipes out there! You’ve never let me down! I am forever your faithful fan.
Elisa
Hi,
I just wanted to know if I can soak coconut powder in water as a substitute for fresh grated coconut.Can I do the same with shredded coconut ? Is it better if I add milk to soak it in,or does it depend on the recipe ?
Hi synuae,
Coconut powder in water may be a good substitute for coconut milk. Dried shredded coconut can be substituted for the fresh one but just soaking it in water will not produce the same taste as the fresh one. I have not tried soaking coconut in milk…sorry.
Hello,
I’m your biggest fan and God Bless you Both for sharing all great recipes…
Can we use frozen shredded cocnut!!!have to make it for tomorrow’s POTLUCK
Sorry we are a little late on your question. Yes, you can use frozen shredded coconut.
Wow this turned out gr8! But I did it with some varioations had to add green chillies instead of red coz I did not have them in my pantry.
I also had a quarter lemon lying in my fridge so I just squeezed it whie serving…it was awesome.
Thank you ladies. Your website is such a life saver.
I have decided to cook 2 new recepies every week. This place is a nice inspiration for me to go o with my otherwise mundane life.
Thank you so much,
Regards,
Gauri
Hi Gauri,
Your additions sound wonderful…glad you enjoyed it!
Hay Hetal you are so beautiful!. How old are you?
Thanks Sanju! Last time I checked, I felt like I was 21. 😉
Hi Ladies,
I tried this today and absolutely loved it! Turned out perfect.
You’re so lovely! Even if your recipes were bad i’d love to make theme anyway 😀
Great recipes and great ideas (i’m vegetarian and this is a great help)!
Thank you!
Yummy! I love coconut and this recipe is perfect for my next meal, thanks 🙂
nice presentation but i dont think u added salt!
Laser EYES !!!
Yep they added …. anuja told that they have added while cooking rice.
Hi
Hetal & Anuja
Your coconut rice recipe is a hit within my family. I like your rice recipe and the pan in which you made it. Could you please tell me the Brand name of the pan and from where did you get this?
Hi Neha,
Surprisingly, the pan does not have a brand written on it. We purchased it from TJ Maxx.
Hey where did ya get your ladle from … can u tell me which brand and where can I get??
Anuja U luk gr8 with pony tail and hetal u luk cute.
I tried ur instant tomato rasam n I have only one word … waaaawwww … and my guests were here for thanksgiving … made this recipie …. they liked… they could’t belive its from can … belive me no leftover for 2nd day …hahha lol 🙂 Any way gonna make sum more for tomorrow.ssssss my mouth starts watering.got to make again.
Hi Dakota,
We cannot find the spatula we use anymore, anywhere :(. Glad you enjoyed the instant rasam!
Very nice recipe………….Hetal & Anuja
hey from where we get fresh coconut in usa
I have seen fresh coconuts at Asian Food Markets and Indian Grocery places. Also “fresh” frozen coconut is available in Indian/Pakistani grocery stores as well.
‘daily delight’ brand is good. found in indian stores, freezer section.
Fantastic recipe. Thengai satham is my fav.
Try adding fresh green chilies instead of dry red chilly. Green chilly gives fantastick flavor to the dish.
thengai sadam was delicious, and simple to make. served it aside a sri lankan chicken curry, was fabulous. thank you.
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
Very nice and easy recipe. I make it the same way except that I also add ginger and green chilli paste to the rice…to make it a bit more spicy and garnish with some cilantro..
thanks,
Pavithra
that looks like a brand new pan! looks lovely..
do u have a recommendation for a good cast iron skillet? brand?
Hubby loves coconut so I’m going to try this one soon. Any recommendations on the brand of coconut oil? We do havea patel’s out here so feel free to be specific. I’ll check back here in the comments section.
Thanks!
Hi GB,
We use coconut oil only occasionally so hopefully some of our viewers may be able to offer their opinions on good brands.
hi GB,
PARACHUTE coconut oil gives wonderful taste.
i use the same here in US.
[just dont think its a hair oil, you can use it for cooking too] 🙂
Hello ladies,
Thanx for a very simple, delicious recipe for a lazy snowy day.
Coconut Rice is cooked in almost all parts of India i guess.
just wanted to know why you wanted to mention that only in TAMIL?
All the different flovoured rices (tamarind rice, Lemon rice, coconut rice etc etc.) are basically from Tanil Nadu 🙂 🙂
All the different flavoured rices are basically from SOUTH INDIA, not only from TAMIL NADU :):):)
Sana,
This recipe is common in Anuja’s husband’s family (Tamilian) so that is why we mentioned it that way. We are sure there are many different ways to make it even in Tamilnadu and the rest of India.
Tamil Sadam is the right word because no north Indian states people like Coconut or coconut byproducts. It is rarely used except by south indian restaurants for making coconut chatni for idli, dosa, etc. Only in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka coconut rice is made. Even in Andhra Pradesh, people dont like the coconut taste..Mera Bharat Mahan!!!
We need to change that to “Humara Bharat Mahan” 🙂
Yumm!!!
Just want to have it straight from your pan !
Neha,
This goes well with any spicy curry or jus chips or papad.
This looks really good! What dishes would be served best with this rice?
Veggie Side dish – any dry curries like potato roast, plantain roast, suran roast, colacasia roast, sweet potato roast.
NonVeg – liver roast, mutton sukka, chicken roast.
Moreover this goes well with Vatral, thick version of cilantro chutney, mint chutney, vadagam thogayal, ginger thogayal and lime pickle.
Hope this helps.
Very easy recipe…! Thanks for sharing… Keep up the good work Hetal and Anuja 🙂
And ya,to Heetal,this color suites u most…u look gorgious today!!!
Thanks Harshada! 🙂
Hi Heetal & Anuja
Nice & delicious recipe…real simple…and can make anytime as ingrediants r easily available…i think if we add haldi and lime juice to it …it become Lemon Rice…that one is also very yumm rice dish…