Easy way to make Arroz de coco Recipe (Colombian Coconut Rice)

I was skeptical the first time I tried Arroz de coco (Columbian coconut rice) as it did not look like a traditional rice meal but it did smell heavenly. The moment the rice hit my mouth all of my trepidation left the room. And the love affair with Arroz de coco began that day and it never ended.

My mother used to make it for the whole family once a week but after her passing I used it to buy it from a Cuban restaurant then amid Covid that restaurant was shut down. After this disaster, I had to dig out my mother’s recipe so I can cook it myself.

Today I will be sharing easy ways to make Arroz de coco recipe and hope you fall in love with this Columbian dish with a Cuban twist.

How to make Colombian coconut rice

The process of making the famous Columbian coconut is time-consuming but the result is worth all the time in the world.

But before starting the process, choosing the correct coconut milk is very important. You would want to get the coconut milk without any stabilizers. This means you need to find milk that does not consist of crystalline cellulose or xanthan gum. If you cannot find coconut without a stabilizer then you have to add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil which will help the solids and fat can be easily separate, which is ultimately what you want. You will add the oil when the coconut milk has sufficiently reduced and when it starts to make sounds like the oil is boiling.

What ingredients do you need to make Arroz de coco

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total time 1 hour 35 minutes

• 1 can of coconut milk
• 2 cups of uncooked long or medium grain rice
• 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
• 3 cups water

Directions to make Arroz de coco

Let’s find out the steps to make Arroz de coco

Step #1 Start by heating the coconut milk in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over high heat until the milk starts to simmer. 

Step #2 After it starts to simmer reduce the heat to medium-low and then cook. You have to keep on stirring and make sure to use a wooden spoon. 

Step #3 Cook it until the coconut milk breaks into solid coconut chunks. You will have to cook it until the chunks become dark brown which will take around 20 minutes.

Step #4 After you have cooked the coconut add rice, sugar, and salt and increase the heat to medium and cook.

Step #5 You have to stir it constantly until the grains of rice start to become translucent and golden in color which will take approximately 2 minutes. 

Step #6 Lastly after the rice has turned brown add the water and stir it to combine.

Step #7 Stir continuously and bring it to a simmer on high heat.

Step #8 After bringing it to a simmer set the heat to the lowest possible level and cook for 15mins.

Step #9 Remove from the stove and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes. 

It’s time to serve the Arroz de coco. You can serve this dish with the famous appetizer known as Croquetas or you can also try serving it with Vegan Tacos to bring out the flavor.

Conclusion

If you read this article then you will know an easy way to make the Arroz de coco recipe (Colombian Coconut Rice).

You can add or take out ingredients that you don’t like or something you love. I always leave out raisins as I am not a fan of raisins. If you want to add raisins then feel free to add raisins which some say bring out even more sweetness.

You can experiment with which sides or appetizers you want to have with this amazing sweet dish known as Arroz de coco.

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING)

210 Calories

• 14g fat
• 21g carbs
• 3g protein

FAQ

Can you freeze Arroz de coco and eat it again?

Yes, you can freeze and reheat the Arroz de coco. Make sure the dish is not warm before putting it in a container and putting it in the refrigerator.

Can I use fat-free coconut milk to make Arroz con pollo?

No, the fat-free coconut milk won’t work. You need the fat content to separate so you can mix it with rice and sugar to make this sweet Arroz con pollo.

What type of additional spices can I add to this dish?

You can add cinnamon, nutmeg, or clove. I experimented by adding a cinnamon stick which gave it a different smell and taste.