RICE RECIPES (COCONUT RICE)

Coconut rice is one of the most common foods in Nigeria. Most families eat coconut rice because of the taste, as it is not fry with oil unlike other types. It can be eaten  at least twice a week, either for lunch or for dinner.

Ingredients for Coconut Rice

• 4 cups of Rice
• a  cup of crayfish
• 600 mls Coconut Milk
• 2 cups of hot water
• Goat meat /Fish/ Chicken (whole chicken or drumsticks)
• Chilli pepper (to taste)
• 1 medium onions
• 2 Seasoning cubes- Salt to taste
• 3 stock cubes
• 1 tablespoon thyme
• Vegetables: carrots, red pepper (optional)

Before you cook Coconut Rice

1. Parboil the rice. Wash the parboiled rice and put in a sieve to drain.
2. If you will use whole chicken, wash and cut the whole chicken into pieces. Place the pieces in a pot; add water till it just covers the pieces of chicken, add the chopped onions, stock cubes and thyme and start cooking. The cooking time depends on the type of chicken. The rooster or cockerel cooks much faster than the hen but the hen is tastier.
   
   Cook till it is done and add salt to taste. Put the pieces of chicken in a sieve to drain, then fry with vegetable oil. You can also grill it in an oven. This is to give it a golden look which is more presentable especially if you have guests for dinner. 
3. Now is the time to extract the coconut milk. This is quite an easy task if you follow the directions. Set the coconut milk aside.

Cooking Directions

1.  For the coconut milk, grate the coconut and soak in hot water for 15mins, squeeze through with your hands (caution: may be quite hot) and pass through a sieve –Season the meat and cook till it is soft.

2.  Parboil the rice for about 8-10mins.

3.  Fry or grill the meat.s

4.  Wash out some of the starch with very clean water (optional)

5.  Put the rice in a pot and add the coconut milk and little water.

6.  Add the broth from the meat- Add chilli pepper, onions, maggi cubes, salt and crayfish

7  Add the dried fish after about 10mins

8.  Allow to cook till it starts to dry, usually about 20mins

9.  Reduce the heat and confirm that it is soft

10  If it isn’t add water, cup at a time till it is soft

Serve with Moi Moi, Fried Plantain, or Coleslaw. It is also very nutritious with vegetable salad.