College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Coconut Rice

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Customer Reviews

4.75 out of 5 stars
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"I serve apples stewed in organic apple juice with the cinnamon and nutmeg or cardamom over this coconut rice. It is..."
- Holly Mcspadden, Ellabell, GA full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review

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How to Make Coconut Rice

SERVINGS: 4
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 25 MINUTES

STYLE: INDIAN
PREPARATION: BOILED
EAT IN: SUMMER
FOR OCCASION: ON-THE-MEND

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

1. Bring water to a boil. Add rice, half of the coconut flakes, oil, and salt. Allow the water to return to a boil, turn lower heat to a simmer and cover.

2. Meanwhile, roast remaining coconut flakes until slightly browned. Garnish over rice when tender.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Cool, soothing, and nourishing, it's no surprise that Coconut Rice is a staple of so many tropical cuisines. Your digestion is much weaker when the weather is warm than when it is cool. Luckily, coconut rice is easy enough for your body to break down and assimilate on those hotter spring and summer days. It cools heat and irritation in the digestive tract and thereby cools the blood. It leaves you feeling calm and satisfied. Use this cooling recipe to effortlessly balance a spicy dish, complement a curry, or enjoy alongside any vegetable dish.

Nourishing Ojas

Rice builds ojas. Ojas is said to have the smell of burnt rice, and is the vital essence of all bodily tissues. Good ojas makes a person look strong, healthy, and radiant. So, cooking basmati rice in nourishing, juicy coconut flakes offers your body a renewed storehouse of strength and vitality. Of the many varieties of rice, Basmati is the most sattvic, meaning that it encourages a peaceful state of mind. It also smells delicately sweet.

Easy to Digest

Rice is nourishing and easy to digest, making this recipe an excellent tonic for those who suffer from gas, bloating, or indigestion. Although brown rice has a higher nutritional profile, white rice is more readily nourishing. Coconut flakes are also a simple, soothing addition to rice that is also fairly easy to digest. Together, this dynamic duo creates a nourishing dish that won't bog down your GI.

Simmer Down

Sweet, sensual coconut calms the mind. Its healthy fats coat the nerves, relaxing anxieties and stressors. It also cools the liver, effectively softening your firey temper and increasing capacity for patience. The next time you feel reactive or on the brink of losing your cool, a pot of coconut rice for your next meal might cool your nerves like a soft blanket of snow.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Coconut Rice Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Coconut Rice' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

OILY

ABOUT OILY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

In Ayurveda, oily refers to anything moistening. More specifically, oily refers to building substances that increases fat, or are themselves fatty. For example, sugar is Oily.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OILY

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Subtaste:
Crunchy

CRUNCHY

Makes an audible noise when you eat them. Can provide fun texture variation.

SEE ALL 'CRUNCHY' FOODS / HERBS

HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Coconut Rice
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Quenches Thirst

QUENCHES-THIRST

An herb or substance that relieves thirst.

SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Antacid

ANTACID

Herbs that neutralize acidity in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach in particular.

SEE ALL 'ANTACID' FOODS / HERBS

Relieves Burning

RELIEVES-BURNING

Herbs that soothe a burn or reduce an internal burning sensation, such as aloe vera.

SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-BURNING' FOODS / HERBS

Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain and thereby enhances memory or other cognitive functions and improves mental stamina or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Raises Thyroid

RAISES-THYROID

An herb that increases thyroid function.

SEE ALL 'RAISES-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS

Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

SEE ALL 'PROMOTES-VIRILITY' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Coconut Rice

Coconut Butter

Coconut Butter has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Antacid, Brain-tonic, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Raises-thyroid, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Coconut Flakes

Coconut Flakes has these Actions in Common

Antacid, Brain-tonic, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Raises-thyroid, Tonic, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Coconut Cream

Coconut Cream has these Actions in Common

Refrigerant, Antacid, Brain-tonic, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Raises-thyroid, Tonic, Blood-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil has these Actions in Common

Brain-tonic, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Livotonic, Raises-thyroid, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Almonds

Almonds has these Actions in Common

Tonic, Brain-tonic, Satisfies-stomach, Nutritive, Stimulates-energy, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility

LEARN MORE

Jackfruit

Jackfruit has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Refrigerant, Tonic, Nutritive, Relieves-burning, Quenches-thirst, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Grape

Grape has these Actions in Common

Brain-tonic, Quenches-thirst, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Tonic, Blood-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Coconut Water

Coconut Water has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Brain-tonic, Quenches-thirst, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Antacid

LEARN MORE

Ghee

Ghee has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Tonic, Antacid, Promotes-virility, Livotonic, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Honey Dew

Honey Dew has these Actions in Common

Quenches-thirst, Tonic, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Nutritive, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Sesame Seeds

Sesame Seeds has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Satisfies-stomach, Nutritive, Stimulates-energy, Promotes-virility, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Coconut Rice

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Quenches-thirst, Refrigerant, Antacid, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Tonic, Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Nutritive, Promotes-virility

LEARN MORE

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

Promotes-virility, Relieves-burning, Tonic, Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory

LEARN MORE

Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Refrigerant, Relieves-burning, Tonic, Antacid, Anti-inflammatory

LEARN MORE

Licorice Ghee (9oz)

Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

Antacid, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

Antacid, Anti-inflammatory, Livotonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Relieves-burning

LEARN MORE

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Nutritive, Promotes-virility, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Shatavari Ghee

Shatavari Ghee has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Relieves-burning, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Bala

Bala has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Nutritive, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Tonic

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Stimulates-energy, Tonic, Anti-inflammatory

LEARN MORE

Pitta Massage Oil

Pitta Massage Oil has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory

LEARN MORE


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About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

Read more

Comments & Impressions of 'Coconut Rice'

Do you like 'coconut rice'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'coconut rice'?

full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewhalf start review(4.75 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 2413 likes
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You can usually find dry coconut flakes in health food stores. In local grocery stores the coconut flakes are usually mixed with sugar and moistened. These should be avoided.
If you have a mid eastern grocery store nearby they carry coconut flakes....
- maria capriglione, Knoxville, TN , 10-10-12 (Reply)
This is my new comfort food. Love it! Laura, 03/26/14
- Laura Klover, Lenexa, AZ
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 03-26-14 (Reply)
I serve apples stewed in organic apple juice with the cinnamon and nutmeg or cardamom over this coconut rice. It is delicious!
- Holly Mcspadden, Ellabell, GA
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 04-16-14 (Reply)

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