In cultures across the world, food is a way of bringing family and friends together. Dinner is not just a meal, but an important place for families to gather, talk, laugh and connect with each other over a shared (and delicious!) experience.
Certain foods have become associated with love, comfort, stress reduction, and security. Think of your favorite “comfort food.” I can almost taste my mother’s chicken soup. We turn to food for comfort, to help us cope with difficult experiences, and to satisfy our desires. How many of us grow up and fondly look back on grandma’s cooking and try to replicate it, wishing we had watched closer while we had the chance?
Many of us associate certain foods with a holiday, specific memory, or even a certain person. It makes no difference whether it is served on fine china or your grandmother’s old dishes, but the taste of that special dish lingers in your mouth forever. Our relationship with food has become more than simply a way to nourish our bodies, it has now become an elevated experience. Our palates have become more sophisticated, and thanks to improved farming and shipping techniques, our exposure to new foods has increased dramatically. Cultural foods from far away are now easily accessible and repeatable to people half a world away
For folks here in the US, white rice has been a staple– it provides a quick and easy base for more complex flavors. With the availability of many ingredients, it’s time to branch out. Throw your plain white rice to the side and try this toasted coconut dish immediately! The scallions and garlic lend savory goodness and the brown sugar adds the perfect amount of deep sweetness. The coconut and coconut milk give it a fresh new depth of flavor that is lip-smacking good and almost tropical. Remember to toast the coconut before you add it to this dish because that takes it to an entirely new level of deliciousness. It also makes the kitchen smell amazing!
This recipe is courtesy of Cuisine at Home and will serve 4 people who will most definitely want to come back for another shared meal.
Ingredients for Toasted Coconut Rice:
2 cups jasmine rice
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped scallion whites
1 can coconut milk (5.46 oz.)
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped scallion greens
1/4 cup chopped, sweetened, shredded coconut, toasted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place shredded coconut on a baking sheet and place in oven for 5 to 7 minutes.
The coconut should be a golden brown when you remove it.
Set it aside.
Rinse rice in sieve under cold water until water runs clear.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add brown sugar, scallion whites and garlic; saute until sugar melts, about 3 minutes.
Stir in rice to coat.
Combine coconut milk, broth, and water to make 2 cups of liquid; add to rice.
Bring rice to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, 15 minutes.
Remove rice from heat and with cover still on, let steam 5 minutes more.
Uncover and fluff with a fork.
Top rice with scallion greens and toasted coconut.
It’s that simple!
