I am always in the lookout for some easy lunch options, especially given it is a Sunday. For me, Sunday lunch is synonymous to easy one pot meals. Few months back, I started my Sunday Biryani series to record every single biryani I was making in my kitchen. While I still adore my Biryanis, there are some days I wish there was something simple to prepare. That's when Pulao or mildly fragrant rice recipes come to my rescue 🙂
Today's recipe is something I learnt years ago on a TV show. Thengai Paal (Coconut Milk) is rich and tasty, full of flavor. Instead of making a Pulav with plain rice and vegetables, in this recipe I replace water with coconut milk. The resultant rice is quite rich, flavorful and amazingly delicious. It has a very subtle flavor of masala with the use of whole spices.
It is the pristine white color of the Thengai Paal Sadham/Coconut Milk Pulao that is the highlight of this recipe. Since it is mild and light, any spicy side dish or curry or dal goes really well with this dish. I make my coconut milk fresh at home and that way, I can make thick coconut milk with ease. All that needs to be done is to grind 2 cups fresh coconut with 2 cups of water and extract the thick coconut milk. If you want to go by the short cut, you can use store bought coconut milk too - works well! With no further ado, here is my recipe for Thengai Paal Sadam.
📖 Recipe
Thengai Paal Sadham | Coconut Milk Pulao
MEASUREMENT
1 cup = 250ml, 1 tablespoon = 15ml, 1 teaspoon = 5ml
Ingredients
- 1 cup Basmati Rice
- 1 large Onion
- 2 cups Thick Coconut Milk
- 3 Green Chillies
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Cinnamon
- 1 Green Cardamom
- 2 Cloves
- 1 tablespoon Oil or Ghee
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
- 2 tablespoon Mint Leaves finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Coriander Leaves finely chopped
- ½ cup Water
- Salt as needed
Instructions
- Wash and soak 1 cup Basmati Rice in ½ cup Water for at least 20 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon Oil or Ghee in a pan. Add 1 Cinnamon, 1 Bay Leaf, 1 Green Cardamom, and 2 Cloves. Fry for 10 seconds. Add slit 3 Green Chillies and sauté for 10-20 seconds. Add sliced 1 large Onion and fry for 3-4 minutes until golden.
- Add a pinch of salt, then 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste and chopped 2 tablespoon Mint Leaves & 2 tablespoon Coriander Leaves. Fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the water used for soaking rice and cook until nearly evaporated.
- Pour in 2 cups Thick Coconut Milk, add Salt as needed, and let it gently bubble. Add the soaked rice, mix well, cover, and cook on low flame until the rice is done and the milk is absorbed (7-10 minutes).
- Let it rest covered for another 10 minutes. Fluff gently and serve hot with spicy curries or dal makhani.
Video
Nutrition
Recipe Notes
- I use 2 cups of water for every cup of rice used. Since I wanted this Pulao to be moist, I used additional ½ cup of water but its optional if the rice is soaked for 20-30 mins.
- To make thick coconut milk at home, add 2 cups of warm water to 2 cups of chopped/grated coconut and blend until smooth. Strain the coconut milk and use it for the recipe. If required, additional 1 cup water can be used with the same coconut for getting 2nd milk which is slightly diluted.
- Adjust green chillies as per spice preference.
- Mint leaves are essential for this recipe as they pack a lot pf flavor.
- If desired, vegetables can be added and sautéed before coconut milk is added.
- Don't disturb the rice once cooked and let it rest for 7-10 mins atleast. Otherwise, the rice can be broken instead of being full beautiful grains.
I would be delighted to know if you have tried this recipe, don't forget to provide your rating for this recipe and do share your comments below. If you have any questions, you can always e-mail me! I am also available on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter 🙂
MyCulinarySaga
wow that will surely taste delicious 🙂
chcooks
Thanks Trupti 🙂 It sure does!
Srividhya
Love this simple rice. I prepare the same way too but add 1 tomato for the texture. U know what I posted this as a combo too. 🙂 I served this with turnip kurma. Waiting for your side. BTW this post didn't show up in my reader. Not sure if it will show up later. Came via Twitter though.
chcooks
Thanks Sri 🙂 Oh I will check out you recipe too! Will come up with the side dish post soon.
I know.. the reader thingy is not working again 🙁 I resolved few issues only last week and now the whole post goes off the reader. I am working with the support guys.
This whole weekend went off fixing stuff again... something broke all of a sudden.
Lynz Real Cooking
Looks so wonderful CH! I have never tried this and it must be tasty! yumm
chcooks
Thank you so much Lynn 🙂 It really is very tasty 🙂
kushigalu
WOW! This looks so flavorful dear. Just can't wait to try this out 🙂
chcooks
Thanks dear 🙂
CakePants
This looks wonderful - I only wish I could smell it through the computer! I've never cooked rice with coconut milk before, but it sounds SO flavorful. Yum!
chcooks
Thanks much C 🙂 Do try cooking rice with coconut milk - it is divine especially when cooked with these whole spices and mint 🙂
The Girl Next Door
I make something very similar! 🙂 Check this out - https://thegalnxtdoor.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/easy-lunchdinner-idea-one-pot-mealthengai-paal-biryani-vegetable-and-coconut-milk-rice/
chcooks
Love your version with a lot of veggies TGND 🙂