Name: How to make Caribbean Coconut Rice (Easy Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 cup fresh lime juice; 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut; 1 cup coconut milk; 1 cup water; 1 cups Jasmine rice; 1 handful chopped cilantro

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This easy Jamaican coconut rice recipe is cooked in under 30 minutes and flavored with coconut milk, fresh lime juice and cilantro.

Cilantro Lime Coconut Rice | This easy rice recipe is cooked in coconut milk and flavored with fresh lime juice and cilantro.

Add a tropical flair to your next Caribbean rice dish by adding in shredded coconut flakes, fresh lime juice and fragrant cilantro.

I promise my cilantro lime coconut rice is a winner.

It makes a perfect accompaniment to any burrito bowl or spicy chicken off the grill and it’s so easy to make.

We just returned from a fun week-long vacation to Jamaica.

It was there I fell in love with authentic jerk chicken and coconut rice.

We stayed in a great town called Ocho Rios, located on the north center of the island where we lounged on the beaches and explored the mountains.

It was definitely a vacation to remember.

It was there we enjoyed authentic Jamaican rice flavored with shredded coconut and cilantro.

The key is using full fat coconut milk in addition to water when simmering the white rice.

Coconut milk and shredded coconut adds fantastic flavor.

In fact, I couldn’t get enough of the delicious Caribbean cooking and I just kept going back for more.

I also fell in love with authentic jerk chicken.

As popular as fast food, but with a Jamaican twist, the island is known for their national chain, Scotchies.

It’s the place to go for jerk chicken.

It’s a flavorful dish with tender meat and a kick of heat.

This spicy chicken dish is made with the flavors of cinnamon, allspice berries and fiery peppers.

It’s too bad we don’t have Scotchies here in the states.

This coconut rice dish is similar to my jasmine rice with cilantro and plantains recipe.

Either recipe would be delicious with brown stew chicken.

Plain rice can be boring so jazz it up by adding fresh squeezed lime juice and your choice of mix-ins.

Since arriving back home, we’ve had to make do with jerk spice seasoning that we brought back with us but I have re-created the coconut rice recipe a few times.

Will we go back to Jamaica?

Ya Mon!

A bowl of coconut Jamaican rice on a wooden table next to a fork.

Ingredients

Olive oil.

Limes. Fresh juice and lime zest is best in this

Unsweetened coconut. You can usually find coconut flakes in the baking aisle of the grocery store.

Canned coconut milk. Since fresh coconut milk is hard to find, grab a whole can of coconut milk instead. Search the

Water. One cup of water will do.

Rice. There are many kinds of rice that will work for this recipe. I like to use Jasmine, but basmati rice or long-grain rice works well also.

How to make this delicious rice

Using a medium sized pot over medium heat, bring cold water, coconut milk, olive oil and rice to a gentle boil.

Next, reduce the temperature to low heat, and cover the pot and allow to cook for about 20-30 minutes total.

After 10 to 15 minutes the liquid should evaporate. Then stir in the lime juice, coconut and cilantro.

The rice should finish cooking in a covered pot in the next 5 -10 minutes cooking time.

Fluff rice with a wooden spoon and serve.

A bowl of coconut rice with lime slices on top.

Why is my coconut rice mushy?

No one likes a pot of mushy rice. Here are some tips for perfect rice.

Water-to-Rice Ratio: One of the main culprits for mushy coconut rice is the ratio of water to rice.

If there’s too much water, the rice becomes overcooked and loses its desired fluffy texture.

To avoid this, when cooking rice use the right amount of liquid.

As a general rule, for coconut rice, use one part rice to one and a half parts liquid.

Type of Rice: The choice of rice matters. Long-grain rice, such as basmati or jasmine, works best for coconut rice.

These varieties hold their shape well and yield a light and fluffy texture when cooked properly.

Cooking Method: Pay attention to the cooking process. Avoid cooking the rice for too long or using excessive heat.

Properly steaming the rice allows it to absorb the liquid without becoming overcooked.

When using canned coconut milk, choose light coconut milk for a lighter texture or full-fat coconut milk for a richer, creamier texture.

Adjust the liquid amount accordingly based on your preference.

Amazing recipes from the Caribbean

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