Coconut Thai Rice Food

RESTAURANT STYLE COCONUT RICE (COCONUT MILK)

Steps:

• Rinse rice in water until the water runs pretty clear. (Note 1)
• Drain rice then soak in water for 15 minutes. Then drain.
• Add rice, coconut milk, water, sugar and salt into a small pot or large saucepan over medium high heat. Add pandan or kaffir lime leaf if making Asian restaurant style option.
• Bring it to a simmer so the entire surface of the liquid is rippling (not just the edges), give it ONE stir (not more!), place lid on and immediately turn heat down to LOW.
• Leave for 14 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and rest, undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
• Fluff with rubber spatula. Garnish with toasted coconut, if using, then serve.

THAI COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, except the crystallized ginger and sliced almonds.
• Stir well to combine.
• Cook over medium high heat, stirring until mixture comes to a low boil.
• Immediately reduce heat to low.
• Cover and cook for about 18 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork.
• The cover, and let sit for 5 more minutes.
• Garnish the finished rice with the candied ginger and the sliced almonds.

THAI BASIL BEEF WITH COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• Bring the coconut milk, 3/4 cup water and the lemongrass or ginger to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the rice and return to a boil. Stir, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Meanwhile, whisk 1/4 cup soy sauce, the lime juice and sugar in a small bowl. Toss the cucumbers with 1 tablespoon basil and the remaining 1 teaspoon soy sauce in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a medium skillet over high heat.
• Add the beef and cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium high. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to the skillet. Add the bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until golden, 2 minutes. Increase the heat to high and return the beef and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Stir in the soy sauce mixture and cook until the liquid evaporates, 2 minutes. Add the remaining basil and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 1 minute. Serve the beef and cucumber salad over the rice.

COCONUT THAI RICE

Steps:

• Rinse jasmine rice under cold running water until water runs clear. Let drain. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; cook garlic, onion and gingerroot, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in coconut milk and 1-1/4 cups water; bring to boil.
• Stir in rice; cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; let stand, covered for 5 minutes. With a fork stir in salt.

THAI COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• Add the rice, water and coconut milk to a small pot or saucepan on medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil. As soon as it starts bubbling, reduce the heat to medium-low, and leave it to gently simmer.
• Do NOT put the lid on. Adding a lid will keep the steam inside the pot, and will result in sticky, soggy rice.
• Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from burning in the bottom. Allow the rice to keep simmering until all the liquid is absorbed. Then, remove it from the heat and cover with a lid to keep the rice warm until you are ready to serve it.

THAI COCONUT RICE WITH SALMON

Steps:

• You will need a wide-based shallow casserole about 30cm in diameter, or a deep-sided sauté pan, with a tight-fitting lid as the salmon needs to steam in a single layer. Pick the coriander leaves off the stalks, finely chop the stalks and put the leaves in a bowl. Grate the zest of one of the limes. Set aside. Pour both cans of coconut milk into a large jug, then fill one of the empty cans with cold water and stir this into the jug.
• Heat the oil and butter in the pan over a lowish heat, tip in the shallots and sizzle gently for about 5 minutes, stirring, until they start to turn golden. Stir the curry paste in and cook for another minute.
• Take the pan off the heat and add the lime zest, coriander stalks, rice and a heaped teaspoon of salt, then mix everything together until the rice is coated in the curry paste. (You can prepare this up to two hours ahead.)
• Pour the coconut milk mixture over the rice and stir. Bring to simmering point on a medium heat, stirring gently now and then. Get the spoon right to the bottom of the pan so the rice doesn't stick to it. Scatter in the lime leaves and leave everything to simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Stir the rice once more, then lay the salmon fillets on top. Cover and leave to barely simmer over a very low heat for 15-20 minutes until the salmon looks cooked and the rice is tender. Cook everything very gently or you will have crunchy rice on the bottom and no liquid left.
• While the fish is cooking, juice two of the limes (the grated lime and another) and in a small bowl mix the juice with the soy sauce and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Trim the spring onions, then split lengthways and slice into thin strands on the diagonal. Mix the spring onions and chilli with the coriander leaves. Cut the third lime into six wedges.
• When the rice and fish are ready, take the pan off the heat and leave to stand for 5 minutes. To serve, scatter a third of the coriander salad over everything in the pan. Spoon some coconut rice on each plate, then, using a fish slice, put a salmon portion on top. Drizzle with some of the soy and lime dressing and scatter a spoonful of the coriander salad on top. Give everyone a lime wedge to squeeze over it. Serve the remaining dressing if anyone wants extra, and a side salad.