Coconut Rice / Easy Coconut Rice recipe/ Thengai Sadam 

Coconut rice is a popular South Indian Rice dish, which is quite flavourful. Although it is prepared with simple ingredients, Coconut rice has great depth of flavours from the toasted coconut and spices. It is an amazing rice dish that the whole family will enjoy. Rice is an intrinsic part of the Indian cuisine and you will find variety rice dishes everywhere in the subcontinent. Biryani and Pulao dishes feature in North Indian cuisine, while variety rice dishes like Curd rice, Tamarind rice, Lemon rice, Thenga chor, Tomato rice, Sambar Sadam, Rasam choru, Ghee rice etc top the Southern Rice platter.

Coconut rice can be prepared with any long, thin, fluffy rice like Kollam rice, Basmati rice, Jasmine rice, Ponni rice etc. Mild yet pleasing spices with fried nuts and toasted coconut flakes gives an excellent makeover to left over rice. Yes, I made it with left over rice and transformed it into an exotic meal within no time! Every time you have leftover flaky rice, try this Coconut rice/ Thengai Sadam and bask in the compliments.  You can cook the rice well ahead and toast with other ingredients just before serving; it is a great dish to entertain your guests.

I love all kinds of rice and can’t do without one (at least) rice meal a day. My comfort food list include all kinds of rice dishes- Kanji with Payar puzhukku and Thenga Chammanthi, Kerala brown rice with thoran and fish curry, white rice with sambar or Rasam, fried rice and chilli chicken, Pulao and Paneer, Mutton/ Chicken/ Fish Biryani or Ghee rice, lemon rice, curd rice, tomato rice etc.. Nadan Chicken Curry with Thengakoth or Chettinad Chicken curry is what I recommend with coconut rice; or serve with any spicy gravy like Mutton Curry, Nadan Beef Curry, Paneer dishes, Cauliflower Mappas, Prawns in Coconut Milk curry, Chicken Xacuti or Peshawari chicken curry. Have Raitha with some crispy Kara Boondhi to make the meal more festive.

Hope you enjoy this variety coconut rice with distinctive flavours. Would love to hear from you. Keep visiting!

Ingredients for Coconut Rice:

Step by Step Method for Coconut Rice:

1. Boil the rice and allow to cool. You can make this with left over rice as well.
2. Chop the onion, green chilies and ginger.
3. Heat coconut oil and ghee in a pan and add Cardamom, Cloves and cinnamon.
4. Next, add Urad Dal and Bengal Gram and fry till slightly golden.
5. Put the cashew nuts and fry slightly.
6. Add the ginger, green chilies, Red chillies and onion and sauté for few minutes.

7. Sprinkle asafoetida powder and salt to taste.
8. Mix in the scraped coconut and toast till dry.
9. Stir in the rice and combine well.
10. Adjust salt and transfer to a serving plate.

Enjoy Thengai sadam with spicy curry of your choice and Raitha.

Tips:

• Any long grain, light and fluffy rice can be used to prepare this exotic coconut Rice.
• Always prepare Rice ahead and allow to cool. It is important to cool the rice to ensure that the rice grains stay intact.
• Once it is cool enough, gently stir the rice with a wooden fork to separate the grains.
• Use a non-stick pan to mix the rice to avoid breakage.
• Toast the grated coconut till it is dry.
• You can add peanuts instead of cashews.
• Use a mix of Coconut oil and ghee for better taste and aroma.
• Serve Thenga chor/ Thengai Sadam with any spicy gravy and Raita.

Have a hearty lunch or Dinner with this delightful and immensely satisfying Coconut Rice. If you found this recipe helpful, please let me know through comments or share it with your friends. It will keep me motivated. God Bless!!