We recently shared a delicious Basa Fish Curry with you, which was undoubtedly a huge hit. In the Fish Curry picture, we gave a sneak peek of our favourite, Coconut Pilau Rice. It is the ultimate side dish to so many meals.
What is Pilau rice?
Pilau rice in basic terms is rice cooked in stock with added herbs/spices and other ingredients, such as meats or vegetables.
In this example of a pilau, we have added onion, turmeric, cumin, vegetable stock and curry leaves to basmati rice and the star ingredient is desiccated coconut. Pilau is also similar to Pilaf rice.
See our step by step slide show on how we made our Coconut Pilau Rice, full ingredients and instructions are found on the card below.
Tumeric Health benefits?
Tumeric has many health benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties, prevents cancers, treats arthritis, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's, helps control diabetes, improves skin health. Promotes weight loss, improves digestion & boosts the immune system.
How to make Coconut Pilau?
So without further ado let me give you a step by step guide to making this Coconut Pilau rice.
Start by frying off a small onion with cumin and Tumeric in a deep lidded pan for 5 minutes, onion should be soft and well coloured from the Tumeric.
Next, add the rice and stir for 1 minute whilst it absorbs the yellow colour from the spices.
Next, add your coconut, curry leaves (you can use bay leaves instead) and add your stock.
Bring to the boil, stir, then turn down to lowest heat setting, place lid on and simmer for 10 minutes.
Take off the heat (do not remove lid) leave to stand for 10 minutes or until ready to serve.
Finally, remove curry leaves & use a fork to fluff up the rice.
What makes rice yellow?
Tumeric gives a lovely yellow colour to rice! This is what the Indian restaurants use to give there rice a particularly vibrant glow.
Sprinkle with some more coconut and coriander leaves before serving.
We used Crazy Jacks Desiccated Coconut as it is unquestionably the best! Organic Coconut, with no Added Sulphites. Gluten Free, Vegetarian & Vegan friendly. They do a great selection of other Organic fruits, seeds, nuts & grains too.
What to serve pilau with?
Besides the Basa Fish Curry, here are a few of our recent dishes you can serve up with this rice.
Sea Bream with Garlic & Chilli
Mozzarella Crispy Chicken
Sizzling Spicy Pork
Easy Peanut Chicken Curry
Homemade Lamb Curry
Coconut Pilau Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 250 g (1 ⅓ Cup) Basmati Rice (optional but I find soaking rice in cold water for 20 mins, makes end result of rice more fluffy)
- 1 Onion
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- ½ tsp Ground cumin
- 480 ml (2 cup) Vegetable stock (I used 2 stock cubes)
- 2 Curry Leaves Or Bay leaves
- 2 tbsp Desiccated Coconut
- Sprinkle of salt to taste
- coriander leaves (optional) to serve
Instructions
- Fry off a small onion with Cumin and Tumeric in a deep lidded pan for 5 minutes. The onion should be soft and well coloured from the Tumeric.
- Next, add the rice and stir for 1 minute until it absorbs the colour from the onion and spices.
- Add your coconut, curry leaves and stock. Bring to the boil, stir, then turn down to lowest heat setting, place lid on and simmer 10 minutes. .
- Take off the heat (do not remove lid) leave to stand for 10 minutes or until ready to serve.
- Remove curry leaves and fluff it up with a fork.
- Serve with and an extra sprinkle of coconut and some fresh coriander (optional)
Video
Nutrition
How long can you keep leftover rice for?
Do not leave cooked rice out at room temperature for long periods of time. After cooling, make sure to keep it in an airtight container in the fridge to avoid it spoiling. It will last 3 days in the fridge.
How to reheat rice?
We reheat out leftover rice in the microwave. Place the desired amount in a bowl, add a splash of water, use a fork to separate grains and heat for 2 minutes per serving. Stir and check it is piping hot throughout.
I'm starving right now! This Coconut Pilau Rice looks really yummy.
I LOVE making "rice with stuff" like this recipe! The golden color is delicious and I really love this version.
Thanks, Lindsay
Really nice to hear you liked the recipe 🙂
Enjoy!!
Love the colour of this rice and the subtle coconut flavour. So easy too!
Thanks, Lara, your right this is really easy and such a flavoursome rice 🙂
This was delicious but I had to make a few changes. I toasted the coconut before adding. Added 5 whole cardamom and a shake of black cumin. Threw in a handful of curry leaves and fried with the onions. Your proportion of rice to water was just perfect. Thanks for a lovely recipe which I shall definitely make again.
Hi Heather, thank you for that nice comment 🙂
The changes sound delicious, really glad you liked the recipe!!
Enjoy
This rice is great with curry or by itself! I love anything with turmeric in it.
Hi Michelle
We love using turmeric with recipes especially our rice it just gives you so many health benefits 🙂
Enjoy!!
The coconut is such a delicious surprise in this rice! The combination of spices compliment so many dishes!
Thank you Alison for them nice words, so glad you enjoyed the coconut rice 🙂
Oh wow! This looks amazing and so delicious! I can't wait to make this! My family and I are going to love this!
Thanks, Beth
Hope you enjoy the pilau rice recipe 🙂
Let us know your thoughts?
I had never tried making coconut pilau rice but I've tried it at a restaurant and I loved it! Thank you for this recipe!
Thanks, Liz for the comment and rating!
Really hope you enjoy this pilau rice recipe 🙂
Let us know your feedback?
I make all my rice in coconut milk so this is going to just make it even better with those spices and the recipe is so easy here I am making this with my chicken for Sunday dinner today for sure!
This sounds so good! I will definitely be giving this recipe a try this week. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Nicole
Thanks for your comment
Hope you enjoy the rice recipe:)
This coconut pilau rice looks so delicious.In Sri Lankan food we have different rice recipes because rice is our staple food.This pilau is a great idea for our meal.
Hi Amila
Thanks for your comment
Hope you enjoy this recipe 🙂
I am a huge fan of rice and I love coconut! This looks so delicious!
Hi Shoma
Thank you for your comment!
Enjoy:)
I love the health benefits of tumeric and I cook with it a lot. Coconut Pilau looks delish and it looks like a simple recipe to make. I will be giving it a try.
Hi Holly
We love using Tumeric in our recipes, the health benefits are awesome!
Enjoy !!
This sounds gorgeous. Honestly, anything with coconut is a win in my book!
Hi Nyxie
Thank you for your comment 🙂
Enjoy!!
This looks absolutely delicious! I am a huge fan of rice!
Hi Shoma
Thank you 🙂
Hope you enjoy this recipe like we did!!
This is something I would definitely try! I love anything that has Coconut in it!
Hi Monica
Thank you!!
We love coconut in our rice, it gives it that extra flavour 🙂
Enjoy!!
Yuuummmm this sounds SO GOOD. And I appreciate you sharing the benefits with us as well. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
Hi Krysten
Thank you for your comment:)
Glad you like the recipe and I hope you enjoy this rice as much as we do!!
I didn't know rice only has a three-day life span. Now I need to clean out some of the things I left in the fridge.
Hi Fatima
We don't leave our rice longer than 3 days, details like this are good to share in a blog with people just in case they don't know!!
Hope you enjoy this recipe 🙂
This looks amazing! I would pair it with curried scallops. And now I am so hungry and want to eat it now!
Hi Marie
Curried scallops sound amazing, will have to give that a try
Hope you enjoy this recipe!!
This looks like amazing rice! I love that it's coconut. What a fabulous flavor.
Hi Amber
Thank you for your comment, we love the flavour of coconut rice, just gives it extra flavour with your curry
Hope you enjoy this recipe!!
This rice sounds delicious. I like the spices that are added to this rice.
Hi Tara
Thank you, we love adding the spices always give the rice great flavours!!
This sounds and looks insanely flavorful! I should try and make it in this household!
Hi GiGi Eats
Thank you for your comment, I hope you enjoy this rice recipe as much as we did!!