Grated Coconut Rice Recipe – Thengai Saatham

Coconut is one of the most popular variety rices in South India. It is very easy and quick to make and it tastes great.

I use coconut from our farm. Always use fresh grated coconut if possible. That way, coconut rice tastes much better.

But if you don’t have access to fresh coconuts, grated canned coconuts are fine too.

The two main things that you need to do in this recipe is to cook rice and grate coconut. Once you do this, the major part of cooking is done ?

OK let’s see the main ingredients required to make coconut rice.

Main ingredients

• Cooked rice – 2 Cups
• Grated coconut – 1 Cup

For Seasoning

• Cumin seeds – 1/2 tbsp
• Mustard seeds – 1 tbsp
• Chana dal (Kadalai paruppu) – 1.5 tbsp
• Urad dal (Ulutham paruppu) – 2 tbsp
• Green chillies – 1 slit lengthwise
• Cashews – 5-8
• Curry Leaves – 1 sprig
• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Ghee (optional) – 1/2 tbsp
• Salt – to taste.

Coconut rice recipe – preparation

Wash and cook rice. Allow it to cool in a plate. You may add a tbsp of cooking oil and mix it with a fork to make the rice non-sticky.

In a kadai, heat 1 tbsp of cooking oil. Add 1/2 tbsp of ghee (optional). Add chana dal and allow it to change color. Next add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.

Once it splutters, add urad dal. Then add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Then add the cashews and fry them. If you add cashews earlier they might get burned.

Now add the slit green chillies. And then the curry leaves.

Once the ingredients are fried, it is time to add the grated coconut. After adding the coconut, fry it for about a minute by stirring.

The coconut should not be cooked, it should still maintain its tender texture. But at the same time, it should not be raw too!

At this stage, add in the required amount of salt and mix. And then add the cooked rice. Add the rice in small amounts and mix well at each instalment.

Remove from heat and serve.