Coconut Fried Rice Recipe

You haven’t enjoyed the best of coconuts and rice until you try this Coconut Fried Rice recipe!

In this recipe, you can infuse regular rice with the nutty, sweet, and fruity goodness of coconuts. Not only that, but it also has lots of vegetables for more flavor and color.

Stir fry your way to the best dining experience with this fried rice recipe. It’ll certainly go well with your favorite dishes, from beef, chicken, turkey, and fish, to vegetables.

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

Take your rice recipes to the next level by cooking Coconut Fried Rice! It’s a fun and tasty twist to your rice meals. Trust me; this is not your ordinary rice recipe, but you will love every bit of it!

Ingredients

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

Asli basmati rice

Have you tried Asli basmati rice before? Once you start adding it to your diet, it might be your favorite rice to use. I love how it has a fluffy and loose quality that’s perfect for stir-frying.

It’s easy to prepare, even when you want to cook it on its own. 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 just 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.

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 to complement the coconut and vegetables.

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

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

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 bell peppers, carrots, green beans, spring onions, and sweet corn.

These vegetables have the perfect balance of sweet, earthy, and pungent flavors. 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. 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 unique and rich culture! 

Tips

Storing Asli Basmati Rice

• Unopened Asli basmati rice should be stored in a cool and dry area of your kitchen.
• 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. 

Homemade Coconut Milk

Making your own coconut milk is simple, practical, and healthy because it saves you from preservatives and additives in store-bought coconut 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. 

How to Store 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.

How to Select and Store Vegetables

Bell Peppers

Selection

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

Storage

• Bell peppers are best stored in resealable bags in the fridge to last up to 3 weeks. 

Carrots

Selection

• The Produce Moms suggests buying 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. 

Storage

• 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

Selection

• Green beans should have a 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. 

Storage

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

Spring onions

Selection

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

Storage

• 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

Selection

• 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. 

Storage

• 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, instead of homemade coconut milk, you can buy it from the grocery store instead.

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.

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: Fry the rice with the vegetables in a large 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

You can serve this Coconut Fried Rice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It pairs well with:

• 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: Coconut fried rice can only last up to 2 hours at room temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tastes good with 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.

Where did coconut fried rice come from?

The coconut fried rice recipe originated from Asia because rice and coconuts are popular foods in the continent. However, other countries have also made their own version of the coconut fried rice such as Africa.

What is the secret to restaurant fried rice?

The secret to restaurant fried rice is to keep stirring! Continuously mixing it can prevent everything from sticking together and becoming mushy. I also suggest using day-old rice for a fluffy and loose quality.

How to make Cocunut rice?

The best way to make coconut rice is to cook the rice in coconut sauce to fully infuse it with the flavors. You can also use coconut meat as a garnish. Toss in your preferred toppings to add more color and flavor.