Coconut rice

When one thinks of swaying coconut palms ,tender coconut water...the mind immediately conjures up images of lying on the beach in a hammock...coconuts are associated with warm tropical weather...a fresh taste which goes well with both sweet and spicy ! People living in Asia tend to take the coconut and it's health benefits very lightly...now we hear the amazing benefits of 'virgin coconut oil'...something which has been made in all our homes when we were children !!!
"Improves Heart Health by providing healthy short chain and medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) that are essential to good health.  Close to 98% of all fatty acids consumed are composed of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA), which are very different from MCFA that have no negative effect on cholesterol ratios and help to lower the risk of atherosclerosis and protect against heart disease.  Studies have shown that populations in Polynesia and Sri Lanka, where coconuts are a dietary staple, do not suffer from high serum cholesterol or heart disease.  Unlike other fats, the unique properties of coconut also contain a large amount of lauric acid, which is the predominant fatty acid found in mother's milk".-www.coconutresearchcentre.org
 ...'the plant life contains no cholesterol " which will endanger the heart...most of us are unaware of this....our coconut rice,coconut burfi ,coconut chutney,does not affect heart health...the coconut milk that is boiled until the oil separates,however is not good as molecular changes happen when heating for so long at a high temperature !
In addition, coconut contains No Trans-Fats, is Gluten-Free, Non-Toxic, Hypoallergenic, and also contains Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anti fungal, and Anti-parasitic healing properties.  Coconut helps to aid and support overall Immune System functions.
So,please do include it in your diet ,it makes for great dietary fibre with a low glycemic index !

Coconut Rice

Coconut rice is a mildly flavoured light rice with subtle flavours and it makes for a good lunch box option.It is delicious accompanied by Avial or a poosanikkai (pumpkin) morrkozhambhu(buttermilk gravy)...ideal for a satisfying lunch !

Recipe 

Freshly grated coconut-2 C

Rice- 1 1/2 C

Dried red chillies/Green chillies-4

Mustard seeds,curry leaves,channa dhal (fried Bengal gram) for tempering

Onions-small-10-chopped fine 

Oil , salt

Method

Cook the rice...set aside to cool

In a pan add a little oil,add the mustard seeds,when they splutter,add the curry leaves and channa dhal and cook until slightly golden

Add the chillies and onions and saute

Take off the fire

Add the cooled rice to the pan 

Add the coconut and salt and toss together gently...this retains the coconut flavour and prevents the rice getting clumpy

Put back on very low heat and gently warm through...serve immediately or store in a thermal heat trapping container to keep warm .