Better Coconut Rice

So coconut rice has been trending for the last two weeks, the truth is that I have been experimenting wildly and hoping that I would come up with a delicious and healthy recipe… and this sure takes the cake.

It is one thing to make a delicious food, making it healthy is a whole different story; with this recipe, I was able to achieve those two.

We have healthy foods in Nigeria but they are often diluted with unnecessary chemicals or excessively heated before they are consumed.

With this article, I am hoping to show you some of health benefits of coconut and also proffer a very delicious way of consuming coconut. While coconut can be used as ingredients for several Nigerian foods, is it also eaten as a snack and used as raw material for several finished products.

Coconut is high in dietary fiber, helps to improve heart health, helps to prevent obesity, reduces sugar craving, acts as energy booster and improves digestion. It is gluten free, non-toxic, contains antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic healing properties. This is great and the list is endless.

What is even better is when you make a delicious plate of rice out of it. This is my latest coconut rice and girl! It is delicious. I tried so hard to eliminate every unnecessary/unhealthy ingredients and it still turned out delicious.

Better coconut rice

Here is how you make this delicious meal, you can use chicken, goatmeat or fish.

Ingredients (6 persons)

Goatmeat – 1kg
3 cups of rice
1 medium sized coconut
3 cubes of knorr or maggi
3 seeds of yellow pepper
3 seeds of red pepper
1 medium sized green pepper
1 sachet kitchen glory – (beef seasoning).
Teaspoon of thyme.
Curry leaves – half cup
Salt to taste.

For this coconut rice recipe, you don’t need the water inside the coconut; you need the actual chewable coconut, just grate it.

Start by parboiling the rice, slice the green pepper, yellow/red pepper and grate the coconut, the image below shows you how it is done.

Making better coconut rice

Pre-cook the meat for about 10 minutes with the kitchen glory, onions, salt and a cube of maggi, wash the parboiled rice and set aside. There is no frying in this recipe, always avoid the oil when it is possible, you really don’t need it.

Transfer the pre-cooked meat to a bigger pot, add two cups of water, 1-2 cubes of maggi or knorr, salt to taste and the parboiled rice. Allow to cook for 15 minutes, add grated coconut and another cup of water (if necessary), the other coconut rice recipe needed just the milk, here you add everything.

Allow to simmer for the next 10-20 minutes until the rice is soft, you can add more water along the line, taste for salt and add more if necessary.

Add the thyme, green pepper, red/yellow pepper and curry leaves once the rice is getting soft, you don’t want it too soft.

making-coconut-rice2

Allow to simmer 3-4 minutes, turn all together and serve with your favorite soft drink

Try my delicious Caribbean Rice

50 Comments

Dinma
Reply

Thank Chi, I was thinking of making coconut rice without extracting the milk, then I stumbled on this! I feel like adding the grated coconut without extracting the milk is the same thing as eating it raw! Thank you 🙏

September 9, 2023
Adebola
Reply

Your recipe is one of a kind and it’s really helpful..Thanks for the coconut rice. Hoping to buy your book soon.

August 6, 2019
Aify
Reply

This is nice, I will surely try this method and recipe

May 24, 2019
Ama
Reply

I think d coconut wit bring out oil

April 12, 2019
Radhiyat
Reply

Please how can I get the cookbook in Abuja? Thanks ma.

November 1, 2018
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Sure, call us today 08035051468.
Thanks, Chidi.

November 6, 2018
Ijay
Reply

I blend my coconut instead of using grater. Less stress.
Recently, I made coconut rice using the milk, shrimps and a lil spinach. Yummy for me

December 5, 2016
Michael
Reply

Please do you have the description of how to cook afang soup, with periwinkles…. Tasted it here in Lagos for the first time and I was like wooooow!.. If you have that in your cookery book I’m buying asap

September 7, 2016
Esther Edwin
Reply

Pls ma,am curious,what is the health benefit of the coconut chaff in the rice? I made mine yesterday nd my hubby loved it.thanks the reciepe.hoping for your reply

July 30, 2016
esther
Reply

The yellow pepper, ‘re nd green . S t for garnishing or s used in cooking the rice

July 15, 2016
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Mainly for garnishing.

July 18, 2016
Kenny
Reply

Thanks for the recipe. I never thought of using the grated coconut. You are the best!

July 13, 2016
Blessing Richardson
Reply

You mean you can also use the grated coconut, I thought is not useful again after taking the water. Pls your reply will be helpful. Thank you.

July 11, 2016
sandra
Reply

Welldone Chidi… with your good works..

July 9, 2016
NABA
Reply

chy u r da best cook I live here in da Gambia but my friend’s do admire me cooking the Nigerian receipe how can I get da book here may God continue to give u the strength and ability to always deliver up to expectations
thanks

July 9, 2016
vina
Reply

Good. Am going to try this.

July 9, 2016
Ayotomiwa
Reply

Thanks for the recipe I’ve tried it and is yummy

July 8, 2016
Omobola
Reply

Good work chy, is like you are following my mine I just cooked the coconut rice last week but I don’t knw if I get it right by using the milk alone for cooking the rice. Pls get back on this

July 8, 2016
kendra
Reply

Chidi I used to like your recipe but sorry you didn’t get this. How can You say you will add the graded coconut. It’s only the milk that you use pls. Tnx

July 8, 2016
Ijay
Reply

Was thinking that way too. I would advise pple test the version of added grated coconut into your coconut rice b4 hosting it with their frnds.
Sum wouldnt like it. I dnt like swallowing d coconut chaff nomata d invention.

December 5, 2016
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Lol, you are so right.

December 10, 2016
Esther
Reply

I’m hosting a group of friends this weekend, I’ve been running over my head on what to serve…. You just gave me a solution! You are the best!

July 8, 2016
Doris
Reply

Chidi, can I make the rice with the coconut milk only?

November 24, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Sure you can use just the coconut milk. Originally, that is how it is made, this is a simply variation of the original recipe.

November 25, 2015
Sarah Ante
Reply

Chidi thanks for this recipe,am so gonna try it out.piling all ur recipes together for Xmas.keep up the good work girl!

November 23, 2015
rita
Reply

I really appreciate all your recipes , I have been getting from you thank you , now I can try new recipes of food. Pls would you sending me preparation on HOW TO MAKE MOI-MOI

November 23, 2015
Mary
Reply

hi chy, no oil at all, hope it won’t be look dry. The picture look nice and sumptuous hope it will be eatable, cos i plan to cook it for my birthday next week.

November 23, 2015
David Esther
Reply

This is amazing, but can i add carrot or tomatos to this delicious meal to make it look more attractive

November 23, 2015
Judith
Reply

hello Chi,
you are really doing a good job.have been an ardent follower of nigerian kitchen and must confess that you are the best.please how can i get your cookbook.am in awka.and please i would like the recipe for preparing akidi.thanks

November 23, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

pls call 08035051468, 08157668217 for the cookbooks. Thanks.

November 25, 2015
chisom
Reply

pls i also need your book were do i get it in the east

November 23, 2015
chisom
Reply

nice but i am confused, would i cook the rice and the meat together

November 23, 2015
judy
Reply

Wow! I never new u could use the fibre of the coconut.i bet the rice will really taste crunchy and delicious.thanks for sharing.

November 23, 2015
morah Too
Reply

I’m really impressed with ur good work. I will try this. You are a good thinker. Its not just about knowing how to cook good food but also about inventing new methods. Keep it up. Pls I’m in Awka and I need to buy the book. How can I buy it. Thank you.

November 23, 2015
hajiya zaynab
Reply

Thanx, have learnt alot with your recipes. I so much like this blog pls do keep it up

November 23, 2015
christy
Reply

I’ll give it a try, all the same thanks.

July 20, 2015
Ella
Reply

Dis is really nice and i’ll surely try it out soon. Jst to confirm,did you add the curry leaves jst like that without chopping them?

July 18, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Yes, I needed it the way it is.

July 18, 2015
love
Reply

Waoo Thats good Nice work

July 15, 2015
nyzkrafts
Reply

Wow! This is lovely. You don’t want to believe that I’ve been salivating about coconut Rice for a long time now but have forgotten the process of making it! Thank you so much for posting this! Now i can finally make it.

July 14, 2015
VICTORIA
Reply

waoooooo, this is amazing. am a first timer on dis blog nd am so happy with wat i saw today. am gonna try dis straight away. kisses to the brain behind this blog

July 14, 2015
Toyin
Reply

It been great thanks a million.

July 14, 2015
esther
Reply

I must confess that was a lovely cocount rice chy, u are a gud cook keep it up.

July 14, 2015
princess rita
Reply

Hello chy, thank yu for all d sweet delicious recipes. I love dis blog so much. I have a question to ask, on dis paarticular coconut rice will I extract d coconut milk or add d grated coconut like dat? Also where can I get a copy of your the ultimate nigeria cook book? Thx yu

July 14, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Princess, you don’t squeeze out the milk this time around, you add the grated coconut as is, please Click Here for the Ultimate Nigerian Cookbook or call David on 08035051468/08157668217 for more info. thanks.

July 14, 2015
Ify
Reply

What do I do with the water inside the coccnut, Am I supposed to add it? I mean the coconut juice.

July 13, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

The coconut juice is not used for this recipe, you can drink it, it is one of the most nutritious and natural juice known to man.

July 13, 2015
Ola
Reply

Thanks, I tried the other style you made with tomato and it turned out perfectly, I am going to try this and get back to you. Thanks once again.

July 13, 2015
Elonna
Reply

Knowing all these recipes is really nice, I am male, 29 and unmarried. I have been following your blog for a very long time and I learned so much already. I even cook better than my girlfriend now. haha.

July 13, 2015
Blessing
Reply

This is looking so delicious, Chidi let me finally confess that you are the best cook in the world, lol.
Thanks for this blog, I purchased your ultimate Nigerian cookbook from David here in Portharcourt, it is currently the best I have seen so far, thanks for this coconut rice recipe, you are doing a wonderful job.

July 13, 2015

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