It’s not often that I try to trick my husband into eating something that he doesn’t like. I learned long ago that mushrooms, no matter how small, will be detected immediately by my fungi-phobic mate. This then leads to glances of mistrust and the picking-through-the-food routine. I can’t say I blame him. If he tried to switch the toothpaste on me, that would be grounds for banishment to the couch. Even after 10 years of marriage, we can’t agree to use the same brand of toothpaste. He is loyal to Crest, and I will take a tube of Colgate to the grave with me. Don’t mess with my Colgate! Despite my husband’s proclaimed dislike for all things coconut and the feeling of guilt that was beginning to creep into my conscience, I carried on with my plans to make coconut rice. I based this dish on a recipe by Vikram Vij and it is a perfect accompaniment to Vij’s Rich & Savory Chicken Curry.
When I put this on the dinner table, my husband not only polished off the first helping, but went back for a hearty second helping. Deception successful and cook forgiven.
In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup brown rice, 2 cups water, and 2 teaspoons salt, and place over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until all of the water is absorbed. Remove the rice from the heat and let it sit, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
In a large frying pan, heat 1/4 cup canola oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 medium onion, finely chopped. Cook until the onions are turning dark brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add 3 cloves finely chopped garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger and 1/2 large jalapeño pepper, finely chopped. Cook for 1 more minute, stirring.
Add 2 cups cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 1/2 of a medium cauliflower) and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add 1 cup coconut milk (stir it well first) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender, but not mushy.
Pour the cauliflower mixture into the cooked rice and stir well. Serve and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Ginger, Jalapeño, & Coconut Brown Rice with Cauliflower
1 cup brown rice
2 cups water
2 tsp salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 large jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
2 cups cauliflower florets (from 1/2 medium cauliflower)
1 cup coconut milk, stirred well
Cilantro for garnish
In a medium saucepan, combine brown rice, water, and salt, and place over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until all of the water is absorbed. Remove the rice from the heat and let it sit, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
In a large frying pan, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until the onions are turning dark brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add ginger and jalapeño pepper, finely chopped. Cook for 1 more minute, stirring. Add cauliflower and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add coconut milk and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender, but not mushy.
Pour the cauliflower mixture into the cooked rice and stir well. Serve and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Serves 4.
The Culinary Chase
As much as brown rice is a healthy choice, it always tastes bland to me so this recipe with coconut & a bit of spice & heat sounds like a way I would enjoy it more! Cheers!
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I keep want to start this comment with ‘good’ or ‘nice’ or ‘great’ but none of these seems strong enough, or appropriate enough for what you just posted.Just fantastic and mindblowing blog keep it up..!!!
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redkathy
I know that I would just love this rice. Nice slide on the hubby. Don't they know they would just shrivel up and die without us??? 🙂
lululu
so many great flavours blended together into this rice dish!
i can see how articulated u've been to get your husband into something he's not that into. and it's a big success!
penny aka jeroxie
I am a big coconut and colgate fan. The combination with brown rice is a first for me….heh
Drick
interesting…love all the ingredients but would never thought to combine it all together…a must try…thanks…
Jessie
oh man everything sounds absolutely appetizing! i love the flavors of ginger and jalapeno. YUMMMM!
MaryMoh
This dish looks very refreshing to me. It's a healthy dish too. I love coconut rice. In Malaysia, it is very popular. We call it 'nasi lemak' where we have coconut rice served with peanuts, eggs, curried chicken, fried anchovies and a spicy sauce called 'sambal'.
Vegetable Matter
Your rice sounds like the perfect flavor profile. Saved as favorite, can't wait to try. Soon. Can you tell I'm hungry??
Danielle
This would be great for a light dinner on it's own. Would never have thought to put coconut, cauliflower and brown rice together. Glad you did!
Cookin' Canuck
Cheap Apptetite – I got lucky this time. He usually catches me.
Petite – I love good flavorful rice dishes, too. It's hard to stop eating them. That's why I use brown rice. At least I'm getting some fiber.
Divina – I'll cross my fingers that you can find some cheap cauliflower.
Chelsey – With all of the extra flavors and the moistness from the coconut milk, you won't notice that this is brown rice.
Kalyn – I'm excited that my husband enjoyed this. Now I can start looking at all sorts of dishes with coconut milk!
Pegasu, Mae & Ryan – Thank you!
Tasty Eats – Slipping in the ingredients is pretty hit & miss.
Cajun Chef Ryan
Might just make some rice for lunch today after reading this one!
Mae
I'll eat anything that combines coconut and cauliflower. Sooo good!
Tasty Eats At Home
I do the same thing from time to time, try to sneak in an ingredient that is well-hated by the husband. Sometimes I'm successful, sometimes not. This sounds wonderful – we're both huge fans of coconut rice, thankfully!
pegasuslegend
awesome coconut recipe looks delish~ going to try this one for sure 🙂
Kalyn
I have cooked brown rice in the fridge! Sounds wonderful. I love coconut milk dishes but don't like coconut desserts.
Chelsey
MMMMmmmmm. Looks fabulous. I don't really like brown rice(on it own) but I want too! Maybe this dish will do for me as it did your husband. Cure the aversion.
Divina Pe
Haha. Crest or Colgate? Just like here at home. Oh Dara, that brown rice sounds really darn good. Hope the cauliflower becomes cheap Saturday.
petite nyonya
This rice recipe sounds delicious! So full of spices and healthy too! I'm a true rice lover and it doesn't matter how it's cooked, I'll sure love eating it.
CheapAppetite
I'm not loyal to any brand of toothpaste. I usually go with the one that's on sale at the time I need to buy a new tube. It's interesting to know that other people are so loyal. Your coconut rice looks delicious. It's funny you can trick your husband to eat what he doesn't like for once. Congrat:)