Coconut Fried Rice Recipe

What better way to enjoy coconuts and rice in one dish than to cook the Coconut Fried Rice recipe?

This is a family favorite of all the fried rice dishes I cook for breakfast. It has a fantastic mix of vegetables, perfectly cooked rice, and fresh coconuts for the best flavors you can ever imagine.

No matter what your main dish is, the Coconut Fried Rice will pair well with it. Every bite is bursting with awesome flavors and textures that will give you a wonderful dining experience with your loved ones!

Bring an Asian twist to your meals by trying out this Coconut Fried Rice recipe over the weekend or for celebrations with your family. Make everyone’s day better by cooking it for breakfast!

How to Make Coconut Fried Rice

To make Coconut Fried Rice, all it takes is a little bit of stir-frying. In less than an hour, you can get an aromatic, tasty, and filling dish that everyone will love. Adding in some coconuts will certainly make the rice taste so much better!

Ingredients

What food do you need to cook the best Coconut Fried Rice recipe?

Asli basmati rice

When it comes to rice dishes, asli basmati is my go-to option.

Once you know how to cook asli basmati perfectly, it will have a fluffy and loose quality for a pleasant dining experience. It also has a texture that you can easily stir-fry and mix with other ingredients.

It’s easy to prepare, even when you want to cook it on its own. I’m sure you’ll use it more often once you try it. You can set it apart from other grains because of how elongated the grains are and how fragrant it is.

It will taste delicious even if you cook it in water. You can also make it tastier by cooking Jollof Rice, Fried Rice, and other fried rice recipes.

Coconut

In this recipe, there are two ways to add coconuts. First, you need coconut milk to cook and soften the asli basmati rice. The rice will absorb the coconut milk to infuse it with the flavors fully.

Aside from coconut milk, you will also need grated coconut to garnish the rice. It will intensify the nutty flavor, especially when you eat it with vegetables. You’re off to a good start as long as you have the coconut milk and grated coconuts!

There are plenty of other recipes where you can use coconuts. I usually use them for Coconut Cake, Coconut Puff Puff, Nigerian Coconut Egg Rolls, and Coconut Chin Chin!

Smoked turkey

Let’s make the Coconut Fried Rice an all-in-one meal by adding the smoked turkey. It gives the fried rice a savory and meaty flavor, complementing the coconut and vegetables. You can also use chicken or beef instead of turkey.

Aside from smoked turkey, you can also use chunks of leftover turkey dishes. The good thing about using cooked turkey is that it’s already seasoned to add more flavor.

You can also use smoked turkey for Turkey Pie, Egusi Soup, and Okra Soup to make the most out of it!

Herbs and spices

Don’t skip the herbs and spices when it comes to fried rice. I suggest using mixed herbs, curry powder, sea salt, bay leaves, liquid stock, and chicken stock cubes in this Coconut Fried Rice recipe.

These will enhance the flavor of the coconut fried rice for a more luscious taste. You can also add other spices of your choice to make it a recipe of your own.

Vegetables

The Coconut Fried Rice recipe is not complete without the best veggies to go with the rice. I suggest using classic fried rice veggies like bell peppers, carrots, green beans, spring onions, and sweet corn.

The bell peppers and sweet corn will add a mild, sweet flavor, while the carrots and green beans can add an earthy taste to the rice. Balance everything with some spring onions for the best mix of flavors.

These vegetables blend sweet, earthy, and pungent flavors perfectly. In fact, they are also loaded with health benefits for your immunity, energy, heart, brain, and overall health!

Can you already imagine the burst of flavor and color you can get from this fried rice? It’s not just appetizing, but it is genuinely delicious!

Directions

Cook the perfect Coconut Fried Rice recipe by following these simple steps:

1. Use a blender or food processor to blend the green bell pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, scotch bonnet, and water together.
2. Set the sauce aside.
3. Pour rice into a bowl and rinse it with water several times.
4. In a pot, cook the onions, mixed herbs, curry powder, and knorr chicken stock cubes.
5. Then, add the rinsed rice and green pepper sauce. 
6. Pour in the liquid stock and coconut milk.
7. Mix until well combined.
8. Add bay leaves and cover the pan with a lid to simmer over low heat. 
9. Let the rice cook for up to 12 minutes or until done.
10. Rinse and dice the vegetables.
11. Then, heat some oil in a large pan to sautee the onions with mixed herbs, curry powder, and knorr chicken stock cube.
12. Add in the smoked turkey and toss them together. 
13. Fry everything together for two minutes.
14. Toss in the diced carrots, green beans, and chopped spring onions.
15. Season it with sea salt and cook for two minutes. 
16. Then, gradually pour in the coconut fried rice.
17. Mix it together with the vegetables and let it simmer over low heat for three minutes. 
18. Garnish it with chopped mixed bell peppers and grated coconut.
19. Mix it with the rice for extra texture. 
20. Do a taste test and add more seasoning as needed.
21. After that, it is ready to serve!

Dining over this Coconut Fried Rice will surely be an unforgettable experience! You’re not just tasting flavors; you’re also getting a taste of a unique and rich culture! 

Tips

Asli Basmati Rice

• Unopened Asli basmati rice should be stored in your kitchen’s cool and dry area.
• Once opened, transfer it into a container or seal its original packaging. 
• It can also be stored in the fridge or freezer.
• For cooked plain Asli basmati rice, store it in a container in the fridge to last up to six days.
• You can also keep it in freezer bags for up to six months in the freezer. 

Coconut Milk

Making your own coconut milk is simple, practical, and healthy because it’s so much healthier than processed milk.

1. Open the coconut and scrape off the coconut meat.
2. Transfer the coconut water to a container and set it aside.
3. Then, dice the coconut meat.
4. Use a blender to blend the diced coconut meat, coconut water, and water for a creamy and smooth texture.
5. Once blended, filter the milk using a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer.
6. Use a spoon to extract all of the milk. 
7. Store it in a container and refrigerate or freeze it until use. 

Herbs and Spices

• When it comes to storage, seasonings can be stored in their original packaging as long as you seal them closed.
• Alternatively, transfer the spices into containers.
• Store them in cool and dry places away from the sunlight.

Bell Peppers

Buying bell peppers

• Go for bell peppers that feel firm with brightly colored and smooth skin.
• Avoid ones with discoloration or soft spots. 

Storing bell peppers

• Bell peppers are best stored in fridge resealable bags for up to three weeks. 

Carrots

Buying carrots

• The Produce Moms suggests that carrots should have a deep orange color with bright green leaves.
• Don’t buy cracked or split carrots to ensure freshness.
• The larger the carrots are, the sweeter they will be. 

Storing carrots

• To store, cut off the leafy greens on top of the carrots and put them in unsealed plastic bags to last up to several weeks in the fridge. 

Green beans

Buying green beans

• Green beans should have smooth and firm skin.
• It should be free from creases or holes.
• If they feel a bit moist, then it is totally fine because it means that the green beans are sweet.
• Medium-sized green beans are recommended. 

Storing green beans

• According to Simply Recipes, you can store unwashed green beans in plastic bags in the fridge to last up to a week. 

Spring onions

Buying spring onions

• Healthy spring onions should have a firm bulb at the bottom with upright greens.
• There should be no signs of wilting as well. 

Storing green onions

• Spring onions can be stored at room temperature if you plan on using them within two days.
• Otherwise, place them in a plastic bag to refrigerate for a week. 

Sweet corn

Buying sweet corn

• The corn husks should be green without holes or dark spots.
• The tassel should also be brown with a sweet fragrance.
• Squeeze the husk to feel the plump kernels of the corn. 

Storing sweet corn

• It can be stored at room temperature if you’re going to use it for a few hours.
• However, for future use, wrap it in plastic and store it in the fridge to last up to several days. 

Coconut Fried Rice Recipe Variations

You can cook the Coconut Fried Rice recipe with your preferred ingredients to make it a recipe of your own. For instance, you can buy it from the grocery store instead of homemade coconut milk.

On the other hand, you can replace the smoked turkey with leftover Roast Chicken, beef, or even fish. For a vegan option, you can use tofu as a meat substitute. If you already have a main dish, then you can skip it, too.

Aside from grated coconuts, you can use desiccated coconuts for a warm and toasted flavor. Meanwhile, here are more vegetables that you can add to the recipe:

• Peas
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Spinach
• Cauliflower
• Zucchini

You can also use other herbs and spices, such as chili flakes, paprika, ginger, soy sauce, basil, thyme, oregano, dill, onion powder, and more!

Recommended Tools

• Blender: Use the blender to make the green sauce. 
• Frying pan: Make the Coconut Fried Rice in a frying pan. 
• Pot: Cook the Asli basmati rice in a pot. 
• Knife: Slice the vegetables using a clean knife. 
• Spatula: Combine the ingredients using a spatula. 

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How to Serve Coconut Fried Rice

Are you excited for everyone to try the Coconut Fried Rice?

It is one of the best rice dishes you can cook for breakfast. Your family will get the best mix of grains, vegetables, and protein for the day. The filling effect of this dish will keep everyone satisfied in the morning.

Sometimes, I also serve it for lunch or dinner, especially when my family requests it. The Coconut Fried Rice can also be a good option for celebrations to give your guests something new to try.

For side dishes, you can cook any of the following recipes:

• Roasted Plantains
• Moi Moi
• Scotch Eggs
• Fried Chicken Gizzards
• Roast Chicken
• Grilled Croaker
• Fried Fish Fillet

You can simply serve it on a plate to accentuate the colors of the vegetables and the rice. It’s so flavorful on its own that it barely needs other ingredients to make it delicious! 

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Enjoy the Coconut Fried Rice within two hours or while it’s still hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good combination for coconut rice?

Coconut fried rice will taste good with almost any dish. You can serve it with dishes that you usually enjoy with regular rice. In fact, this Coconut Fried Rice recipe is an all-in-one meal on its own.

You can eat it with stews, soups, beef, chicken, turkey, fish, and vegetable dishes.

What does coconut rice taste like?

With this recipe, your coconut rice will taste like the perfect mix of sweet, savory, smoky, and earthy flavors. It will remind you of a wonderful summer feeling because of the coconuts!

How many calories are in coconut fried rice?

It depends on the ingredients you use. In this version of the Coconut Fried Rice, you can get more than 400 calories for a huge serving.

Can you use coconut milk instead of water when cooking rice?

Of course you can! In fact, using coconut milk can better infuse your rice with the nutty and sweet flavors of the coconut. I use coconut milk for my recipe because of how yummy, smooth, and creamy it is!