Recipe- Popular Indian Style Coconut Rice

Vegan Coconut Rice is an easy and popular South Indian dish made with Basmati rice. This recipe is very simple, quick to make, and delicious!Coconut is abundantly grown in the south of India. That's why you will see many traditional south Indian recipes with coconut as a key ingredient, like Avial or Keerai Kootu.This vegan rice recipe is another way of using coconut in daily food. It is a very simple preparation where rice is seasoned with coconut, nuts, spices, and herbs.

Ingredients

2 cups cooked Basmati rice
1 cup fresh/frozen grated coconut
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1 tbsp urad dal
2 tbsp chana dal
1/4 cup peanuts optional
1/4 cup cashews optional
6 curry leaves
6 green chilies minced
1/3 cup cilantro
salt

Method

* If using fresh coconut, grate them first. If using fresh rice instead of leftover rice, cook the rice ahead of time and allow it to cool down completely before using it in this recipe.

* Heat coconut oil in a pan. Temper mustard seeds once the oil is hot.

* As it splutters, add asafoetida, urad dal and chana dal. You can also add peanuts and cashews at this point.

* Once they all turn light golden, tear and add the curry leaves, minced green chilies and half the cilantro.

* Saute for 2 minutes.

* Then add the grated coconut and salt. Give it a mix and cook for another 2 minutes.

* Lastly, add the cooked rice. Mix it all together and cook for 2 more minutes.

* Check the seasoning and add salt if needed. Garnish with the remaining cilantro and take it off the flame.