The Secret Ingredient (Coconut): Double Coconut Rice Pudding Recipe

By
Kerry Saretsky
a photograph of Kerry Seretsky, a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Kerry Saretsky

Kerry Saretsky interned at Serious Eats in 2008, and wrote the French in a Flash recipe column. She also writes her own blog on modernized French cuisine called French Revolution Food.

Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated August 30, 2018
20110324CoconutRicePudding.jpg
Kerry Saretsky

Down in Florida, we think coconuts are dangerous. In gusty summer hurricane winds, they're like cannonballs, flying through the air with the greatest of speeds. You don't want to be in a coconut's way, oh no. Or standing underneath one when it gets ripe enough to plummet down from its palm and clock you on the head.

Yes, coconuts are dangerous, but they are also dangerously delicious. And what better to do with a menace to society than to eat it—take it off the streets for good! Coconut is one of those few ingredients that really is sweet and savory, and that can taste so all-American, and also so ends-of-the-earth exotic.

Coconut comes in many forms. This rice pudding uses coconut milk, and dried coconut, plus a few extras like rice and sugar and cream to make this creamy coconut concoction, inspired by Thai coconut rice and coconut ice cream. It's luscious, not too sweet, decadent, exotic, and comforting. How's that for a dessert!

Recipe Details

The Secret Ingredient (Coconut): Double Coconut Rice Pudding Recipe

Active 10 mins
Total 3 hrs
Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Valencia rice
  • 1 13.5-ounce can coconut milk
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened dried flaked coconut, plus 6 tablespoons
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

  1. Put the rice and 3 cups of water in a medium saucepot. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer the rice until tender, about 18 minutes. Drain in a fine mesh colander.

  2. Put the rice back in the pot with the coconut milk, sugar, salt, and dried coconut. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise, and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds and the pod to the rice. Cook on the lowest heat, uncovered, until thick: 40 minutes. Turn off the heat, and stir in the cream. Remove the vanilla pod, and discard.

  3. Spoon the pudding into 6 serving dish, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Place a wide sauté pan over medium heat, and add the remaining 6 tablespoons dried coconut. Toast the coconut, stirring often, until just golden, but not brown—less than 90 seconds. Take out of the pan immediately so it doesn’t burn, and sprinkle over the cups of rice pudding.

More Serious Eats Recipes