Coconut Rice (Arroz Con Coco)

Tap an ingredient or step to check it off.

1. 1Step 1: If using canned coconut milk, skip this step. Chop the coconut and then the pulp into smaller pieces.
2. 2Step 2: Put all the grated or cubed coconut in a blender and fill the blender with water until about half of the coconut is added. Blend it until it's smooth.
3. 3Step 3: Grab a container and a strainer and squeeze out all the liquid from the coconut mass you just made. The milk remains. You can also strain the coconut directly over the pan you are going to use, then you will have the coconut milk right where it needs to be.
4. 4Step 4: Save the remaining coconut for later and you can leave it in the strainer in the meantime.
5. 5Step 5: Put the coconut milk you made yourself or the canned coconut milk in a large pan, preferably with a slightly thicker bottom. Bring the coconut milk to boil. Once it boils turn down the heat slightly. Using a wooden spatula or spoon, keep stirring the coconut. After a while, the coconut milk starts to split from the coconut until the coconut remains. This can take up to 45 minutes. Finally you are left with the coconut, which you let brown well. This is called titoté.
6. 6Step 6: Now fill two cups with the rice. Add this to the pan with the coconut and mix well. Per cup of rice you are going to add 2 cups of water, so 4 cups of water total. In the same cups as you did the rice. If the rice is still too dry later you can always add a little water.
7. 7Step 7: You make this water from the leftover coconut you have in the strainer. Place the strainer over a bowl and add the 4 cups of water to it. You will use the water that comes back out underneath. Do you use canned coconut milk? Then just add water to the rice at this step.
8. 8Step 8: Once the coconut water is ready pour it in with the rice. You can already see that the rice is starting to turn into a nice brown color.
9. 9Step 9: Now add a little salt and 1 or 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. You can also add the raisins now (don't have to!). This is to your own taste. Should you eventually want the coconut rice a little browner you can add more brown sugar.
10. 10Step 10: Mix everything together well.
11. 11Step 11: Now put the lid on the pan and let the rice cook well. This may take about 15 to 20 minutes. Keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't stick. After 15 to 20 minutes, the rice has absorbed all the water. If the rice is still too hard, you can add a little more water and let it stand for a while.
12. 12Step 12: Now it is ready and you can enjoy the hard work you put into making this delicious dish.