Narali Bhat Sweet Coconut Rice
Narali bhat Sweet coconut rice pudding is a rice dish from the western Indian state of Maharashtra. This sweet rice is known as Narali Bhat in Marathi, ‘Naral = Coconut’ and ‘bhat = rice’. Narali bhat is made on ‘Narali Pournima‘ day, a ‘Coconut festival day’ which falls on a full moon day. You can use long grained basmati rice or any other rice of your choice. Traditionally, this rice is made with jaggery(brown sugar). You may substitute jaggery with sugar if you wish. Jaggery adds it’s own flavor, taste and color to the dish.
Equipment
- 1 deep pan
Ingredients
How to make Sweet Coconut Rice – Narali Bhat recipe
Main Ingredients for Narali bhaat sweet coconut rice pudding for 3-4 servings:
- Rice – 1 cup
- Fresh grated coconut – 1 1/2cups
- Cardamom powder – 1/2 tsp
- Cloves – 4 No
- Sugar or grated/powdered jaggery – 1 1/2 cups more or less according to taste.
- Cashew nuts – 1 tbsp chopped
- Raisins – 1 tbsp
- Ghee or oil – 2 tbsp
- Water – 2 cups
Instructions
Preparation:
- Wash rice, drain and keep aside for 1 hour.
- If you are using desiccated coconut, soak that in warm water.
Cooking Sweet coconut rice – Narali bhat
- Heat ghee in a deep pan. Reduce heat to minimum.
- Add cashew nut pieces and fry a little. Remove and keep aside to add later.
- Add cloves to the same ghee. Fry for a few seconds till you get the aroma.
- Add drained rice. Fry for 2 minutes on low flame. If using basmati rice, handle with care.
- Add 2 cups water and cook the rice till just done.
- Add grated jaggery and grated fresh / desscicated coconut. Mix well.
- Cover and cook for 10 minutes on low flame.
- Add the cardamom powder, cashew nut pieces, raisins and mix well carefully. Don’t let the rice get mushy.
- Sweet coconut rice pudding or Narali bhaat is ready. Keep covered till serving time.
Notes
Tips:
- You may also make a syrup with jaggery or sugar with a little water and add it to the rice when it is just cooked.
- If the jaggery or sugar contain any impurities, making syrup and straining the syrup to remove impurities is better.
- Using ghee gives good flavor and taste.
- If vegan, you may use coconut oil or any other vegetable oil instead of ghee.
- You may cook rice in pressure cooker first and then add jaggery and coconut.