Coconut flavors may be found in practically every Thai or South Asian dish. It’s unusual to come across an entree that doesn’t call for coconut milk or cream in some form. Almost every Thai dish is accompanied by a bowl of Jasmine rice with long grains. However, there are situations when ordinary Jasmine rice is insufficient. Once you’ve tried easy coconut rice, you’ll realize how quickly it becomes your preferred alternative.

Wait till you smell that delicious, aromatic coconut perfume emerging from your pot of rice if you aren’t already enthused about this dish! You’ll want to take a tablespoon of this stuff and eat it right away, raw and uncooked. I’ve been there, so believe me when I say this.

WHAT IS IN COCONUT RICE?

One of the best aspects of this recipe is how simple and straightforward it is to prepare. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and only requires four pantry staple ingredients, all of which you most likely already have on hand:

• jasmine rice
• coconut milk
• sugar
• salt

The most bizarre thing is that I’ve never been a lover of strong, straight coconut flavor, such as that found in coconut water or shredded coconut. I know, it’s insane, right? But I’m really smitten with coconut when it’s used in a recipe as coconut milk, cream, or oil. It’s a unique experience. I’m not sure why, and I can’t put my finger on it, but it just delivers the proper amount of mild flavor and beautiful creaminess that makes me want more!