How to make vegan fresh turmeric coconut rice (video recipe)

Fresh turmeric coconut rice is fluffy aromatic rice with earthy flavours. Cooked in one pot is great way to make the family happy and healthy!!!

With only hand full of ingredients and in less than 30 minutes, you can easily make this delicious rice dish.

This is vegan, vegetarian, plant based, dairy free and glutenfree one pot rice dish. Step by step quick video is also included.

Fresh turmeric coconut rice has punchy flavors. The flavors of black pepper and turmeric makes a great combination.

Rice is a staple dish in our family and we cannot live without rice. This is a versatile rice recipe that can be relished with your family.

My family and twin kids love one pot rice meals.

The vibrant yellow colour of this rice makes it super attractive. It’s easy and quick to make goes well with any curry or raitha.

Vegetarian plant based yellow rice gets the colour from fresh turmeric roots. Fresh turmeric coconut rice can be a meal by itself.

This rice is a great main dish that can be served with side dishes like rajma madra, pigeon peas curry

The pungent flavour of fresh turmeric root is well balanced with spiciness of black pepper and sweetness from coconut milk. This brings unique flavour to the rice.

Coconut milk adds nice aroma and creaminess to the rice.

I have used grated fresh turmeric roots in this recipe. This is a great wonder ingredient to use.

Recipes that use fresh turmeric roots are compiled into a single post. Learn to harness the health benefits of turmeric roots in day-to-day cooking. Simple immune boosting recipes using turmeric roots and leaves

Dice n Cook is a participant in Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. Hence this site may contain some of these links to Amazon.com. If you make a purchase through one of those links, Dice n Cook will receive a small commission from the purchase at no additional cost of you. Read the privacy policy here

Check a quick video of this delicious fresh turmeric coconut rice and try this dish in your kitchen. If you have enjoyed the video do subscribe to Dice n Cook youtube channel for more food videos.

A little thought about this vegan fresh turmeric coconut rice

Fresh turmeric coconut rice can also be called as savory yellow rice. This rice has been around for a long time.

It is prepared globally across many countries with some significant variations.

This rice recipe is slightly adapted from a recipe here

In India, we prepare yellow lemon rice or turmeric lemon rice. This has significantly more of tangy lemon flavour than turmeric.

Fresh turmeric roots are available during winters, the freshness gets filled everywhere in the local markets.

Every year I try to use the fresh turmeric roots in preparing dishes and share the recipes with my readers

This is a recipe for both stove top and rice pressure cookers.

Fresh turmeric gives a vibrant yellow colour to the rice. It has many health benefits. Fresh turmeric adds a depth of flavour to the rice.

You can adjust the grated fresh turmeric as per taste preference in this rice recipe.

Health benefits of fresh turmeric roots

Turmeric is a member of family Zingiberaceae a close cousin of ginger. Turmeric is stem modification called as rhizome.

Fresh turmeric roots have many health benefits. It helps reduce inflammation and treats common cold and cough. Fresh turmeric roots in small content provides relief to indigestion problems.

Turmeric roots contain curcumin the most active bio-compound. Many research have proven that this active compound shows powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

Don’t you think we should include this wonder real ingredient in our day-to-day cooking.

Be cautious!!!!

Do not make a mistake of adding too much fresh turmeric root than mentioned in the recipe. Otherwise, the aroma of rice becomes too strong and can be on higher bitter taste.

Fresh turmeric roots stains everything it comes in contact, so be careful to use gloves or apply oil on palm while peeling, chopping. Wash the knife, chopper board, utensils immediately to remove any stains.

Vegan fresh turmeric coconut rice ingredients

What we need to prepare this tasty rice

Basmati rice or long grain rice – Long grain rice is used in this recipe. I have used basmati rice; however, any long grain can be used.

Fresh turmeric rhizome or roots – Turmeric roots are also called as rhizomes. During the season, I use grated fresh turmeric root. It is the best for preparing this rice.

These turmeric rhizomes are home grown, for further details on how to grow in kitchen garden click here

Coconut milk – I have used thick homemade coconut milk, this gives richness and creamy texture to rice.

Onion – finely chopped onion is used in this recipe. Any onion can be used, red or white onion can be used.

Garlic – adds extra flavour to the turmeric rice. Garlic pods are deskinned and chopped.

Black pepper powder – this gives nice aroma and spiciness to turmeric rice.

Cumin – cumin or jeera is used in seasoning.

Coconut oil – This adds an extra punch to turmeric rice.

Water – add water as required for basmati rice to cook perfectly.

Which rice is used in fresh turmeric coconut rice?

Fresh turmeric coconut rice is prepared using basmati rice. Basmati rice also adds to the aroma of final rice.

I have given this recipe for basmati rice however you can use brown rice or sona masuri rice. Adjust the water quantity and cooking time for any rice you use.

Let’s see how to get a perfect textured cooked rice in the next section.

How to cook a perfect rice?

To cook a perfect basmati rice, it’s important to wash off the starch by rinsing in water and later soaking in water for 30 to 40 minutes.

First wash the rice nicely three to four times until you get clear water. This prevents the rice from sticking together.

While cooking, add two proportions of water to one proportions of rice. This gives a perfectly cooked rice.

If you are adding vegetables, it requires more water to cook along with rice, so add water as required to cook vegetables.

After cooking always leave the rice for 5 minutes and then fluff the rice with a fork.

If you mix it immediately, there are chances are you break the cooked long basmati grains into small pieces.

After learning how to cook perfect rice, we will have a look at the winter vegetables used to make this rice.

Winter vegetables in fresh turmeric coconut rice recipe

This rice is full of aroma and good health, best for your winter goodness. 

In this recipe, winter vegetables like fresh green peas and fresh turmeric roots are included in making this healthy delicious easy yellow rice.

Fresh turmeric or green peas is available only during winters in India. So, we make this yellow rice during winters using freshly available turmeric.

The aroma of fresh turmeric is irresistible. 

You can also use fresh pigeon peas in this recipe, last year I have tried the same rice recipe with crunchy pigeon peas.

They taste equally good as we enjoy with fresh green peas.

Spices used in fresh turmeric coconut rice recipe

Spices are integral part of any rice recipe. So, lets see what spices we use to make this rice.

Freshly powdered black pepper powder is used in this recipe. Black pepper powder helps in maximum absorption of curcumin by our body.

Cumin is added for seasoning, this also adds to aroma of yellow rice. The other best option I can think of is mustard seeds for seasoning.

Fresh turmeric roots are used for vibrant earthy flavour for rice.

Finely grated turmeric roots are added. You can instead add paste of freshy harvested turmeric roots.

After all the details about spices, the next important ingredient is coconut milk. Let’s see how to make it at home in the next section.

How to make coconut milk at home?

Coconut milk adds creamy texture, light and freshness to the rice.

In making this yellow rice, I have used homemade coconut milk. Have you ever tried making coconut milk at home, here is a quick recipe.

Freshly grated coconut is used, and you cannot use desiccated coconut for making coconut milk.

You can prepare it in the mixer grinder. Grind together freshly grated white coconut gratings with one fourth the part of water. Make a fine paste of this and sieve the paste.

The sieved thick coconut milk is used in preparing curries, soups, rice.

It is important to use only white part of the coconut gratings to prepare coconut milk.

Important points to remember while we prepare fresh turmeric coconut rice

If you are using fresh turmeric roots first time in your kitchen, follow these important points mentioned below

The fresh turmeric roots should be cleaned, the outer skin should be removed, now it is ready to be used to cook the rice. 

First important point is to cook the fresh turmeric roots in oil or any fat like ghee, butter.

Since curcumin in turmeric is fat soluble and consuming it with fat increases the absorption by our body.

Second important point to remember when cooking with fresh turmeric roots is to use black pepper powder in the recipe.

Black pepper helps in maximum absorption of turmeric by our body.

Recipe variations of fresh turmeric coconut rice

Any recipe will have variations as per taste preference and availability of ingredients.

So here are few variation you can make to this recipe.

Different vegetables can be added along with fresh green peas. Fresh round beans, carrots, you can make it more colourful by adding different red, yellow bell peppers.

Instead of adding plain water, you can add vegetable stock for cooking the yellow rice.

The main spice I have used is black pepper powder. The other alternative is white pepper powder. If you do not have both these, then you can use green chilies.

If you want to have dairy version of this recipe, then add milk instead of coconut milk.

Coconut oil can be replaced with any oil of preference.

If you want to make this recipe nut-free then you can easily skip cashew nuts.

Whole cumin can be replaced with roasted cumin powder.

If you do not find fresh green peas, then you can add frozen green peas to make this rice.

However dry green peas can also be added. Keep in mind to soak the dry green peas in water for 6 to 8 hours.

If you do not have fresh turmeric roots, then use fresh turmeric powder. The powder should be fresh to get a nice aroma. Use less quantity of fresh turmeric powder than mentioned in the recipe.

How to cook fresh turmeric coconut rice in a pressure cooker?

Fresh turmeric coconut rice can be cooked in two ways. In this recipe I have cooked in open vessel method.

The other method is pressure cooker method. In this method, we add everything into pressure cooker pan in order as mentioned in the recipe. Pressure cook for one whistle and release the pressure slowly. Fluff the rice with fork and serve hot.

Detailed recipe of vegan fresh turmeric coconut rice

Heat a thick bottomed wok. Add coconut oil, once the oil is hot enough, add cumin seeds. Fry cumin well until you get nice aroma.

Add cashew nuts, fry well until they are golden.

Next step we will add finely chopped onion and garlic. Fry till they become translucent.

Next important step is to add grated fresh turmeric root. In this step, we have to fry well till the root becomes soft and leaves a pleasant yellow hue.

Add fresh green peas and mix it well. Add the black pepper powder to spice the rice. Mix well the spices and add the soaked basmati rice to this.

Mix everything well and add thick coconut milk, salt. Coconut milk adds nice aroma and creaminess to the rice.

Add water as per the quantity of rice taken, close and cook the rice until fluffy.

Give a quick stir and close with a lid. It took 20 minutes for the rice to completely cook on medium heat. Add finely chopped coriander leaves 

Add finely chopped coriander leaves. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot healthy yellow rice.

How to serve fresh turmeric coconut rice?

This rice recipe is dairy free however this rice makes a great pair with any raita of choice.

This fresh turmeric coconut rice can be served with any dal or curry which are mild in flavours.

If you want, this can be served plain for lunch or dinner. It makes a great tiffin box or lunchbox recipe as well.

How to store this rice dish?

I prefer to use cooked rice on the same day and do not suggest refrigerating the rice.

If you still have some leftovers of fresh turmeric coconut rice you can refrigerate and reheat before serving it.

Do not miss a recipe, sign up for updates from Dice n Cook

DID YOU LIKE THE RECIPE? SAVE IT TO YOUR FAVOURITE RECIPE BOARD ON PINTEREST!

Dear readers, I am grateful for the time you have taken to read my posts which means a lot to me. Thank you.

If you like my recipes and food photography do follow me

instagram, facebook, 

twitter, pinterest,

 youtube channel.

If you happen to try any of my recipes do tag me with your photos and feedback. I would love to hear your review and suggestion.  So do comment below