• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Joy the Baker
Joy the Baker
  • Cookies
  • Bread
  • Cakes
  • Pies
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Cookies
    • Birthday Cake Recipes
    • Biscuits
    • Muffins
    • Cupcakes
    • Drinks
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Fruit
    • Nuts
    • Buttermilk
    • Chocolate
    • Vanilla
    • Holiday
    • Healthy
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegan
  • Blog
    • Baking 101
    • Tips
    • Beyond the Kitchen
    • Let It Be Sunday!
    • New Orleans
  • Shop

Coconut Crab Rice

April 14, 2012 by Joy the Baker 69 Comments

IMG_5913

I’m ready!

I’m ready for summer lunches with pink wine and dark sunglasses.  I’m ready to be almost annoyed by the big, bright sun in my face.  My love affair with Spring always makes me think of my absolute love-obsession with Summer.

This tropical rice dish totally has me ready to go sandal shopping and wear tie dye.

Perhaps I’m also considering a henna tattoo.   I dunno.  This rice has cast a spell.

IMG_5874

Rice begins in this fashion… with onion and garlic, fresh green onions, a spicy red pepper, and a mixture of cumin and coriander.

The cumin and coriander get sauteed with the onions, garlic, and pepper.  The heat really brings out the flavors and helps the spices to incorporate beautifully throughout the whole dish.

IMG_5887

If rice is the little black summer dress… then these ingredients can definitely be considered beachy sandals, bright scarves, and a classic handbag.

Essentials.

IMG_5892

Coconut milk and lime add a big kick of happiness to this rice.  Big coconut flakes add a toothsome crunch… and cilantro should not be skipped.

IMG_5901-2

With so few ingredients, they all become important.

Toss into steaming basmati rice.

IMG_5905

Crab meat feels like such a luxury.

Crab makes this rice dish feel like an indulgent summer vacation.

If you don’t have crab meat on hand, you can certainly add cooked shrimp, marinated and cooked chicken, even a fried tofu in peanut sauce.

IMG_5916

This dish is totally a rice for all seasons.  Top it with a small handful of extra toasted coconut for an awesome supper… or throw on a fried egg and call it breakfast.

It’s delicious!  Toasted coconut, crab and fresh cilantro!?  These are summer flavors in early spring.  I can feel it!  It’s totally almost time to bust out the short skirts and tank tops.  We’re close!  We’re so so close!

Coconut Crab Rice

recipe adapted from Very Fond of Food

serves 4

Print this Recipe!

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 small yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 small red chili, seeded and finely chopped

1 garlic clove, peeled and minced

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 cup coconut milk

6 cups cooked basmati rice

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup chopped scallions

1 cup cooked crab meat

1 cup toasted unsweetened coconut, plus more for topping

zest and juice of 1 lime

small handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

Cook rice according to the package instructions.  Fluff and set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.  Add yellow onion and cook until translucent and slightly browned, about 5 minutes.  Add pepper, garlic, coriander, and cumin, and cook for another 2 minute.  Add coconut milk and scrape the bottom of the pan to bring up any cooked bits of flavor.  Reduce heat to low and add the rice and stir to coat rice in coconut milk.  Taste and add salt and pepper as necessary.  Sprinkle the rice with scallions, crab meat, toasted coconut, lime zest and juice, and fresh cilantro.  Toss all of these toppings into the rice and cook until the the mixture is well incorporated and the coconut milk is absorbed.  To serve, top rice with more toasted coconut and spicy chili sauce.  Rice dish is also delicious when served with a fried egg on top.

Previous PostNext Post

Filed Under: Breakfast, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Lunch, Recipes, Savory

Previous Post: « Ten (Super Rad) Blog Post Ideas
Next Post: Gluten-free Lunch Waffles with apples and prosciutto »

Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Dana

    August 20, 2016 at 2:39 pm

    Thank you for this amazing recipe! I’ll make it for my husband. Rice and cribe – incredible combination. Oh, I will use my Aroma ARC-753SG Rice Cooker for this recipe.

    Reply
  2. Hielspoor

    October 23, 2013 at 2:29 am

    This recipe looks great! Will definitely try this..

    Reply
  3. Pastrychef23

    May 14, 2012 at 11:53 am

    Wow. I just made this as a mid-course for my mama for Mother’s Day. Did I already say wow? ‘Cause – WOW! What a fantastic dish!!! I should have skipped the first course and entree and just served this. Ah-maz-ing. I gave mom the leftovers to take home (which is oh-so-daugherly of me), but I would have loved it with an egg this morning for breakfast. And if fresh dungeness crab weren’t like $25 a pound, I’d make it again tonight!!! Love you joy, and all the joy you bring us. :)

    Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. Coconut Rice | Foodography says:
    June 21, 2013 at 9:27 am

    […] a great recipe.  It’s adapted from Joy the Baker, so of course it’s great.  The woman can do no […]

    Reply
  2. An email to my sister… « Kitchen Papers says:
    February 16, 2013 at 3:38 am

    […] if it doesn’t have a top, then make one with tin foil so it can be lovely and moist inside. This is along the same lines, but you don’t have to use crab. You could use egg or whatever you […]

    Reply
  3. weigh-in Wednesday « says:
    August 2, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    […] was so busy for me because after work, I whipped up a crab and coconut rice dish (shout out to Joy the Baker) before rushing out to my very first Rockin’ on the River! Each week there is a band or two […]

    Reply
  4. Coconut Shrimp Millet | Your Full Plate says:
    May 8, 2012 at 1:53 am

    […] Adapted from Joy the Baker […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS IN Breakfast

overhead shot of Mardi Gras toast on individual vintage plates
King Cake-Inspired Easy Bostock

This Bostock toast is a delightful marriage of toast and almond croissant. Toast turns pastry.  We’re topping these toasts with orange marmalade and sliced almonds inspired by my favorite almond-filled french King Cake. It’s Mardi Gras, friends!  The big BIG weekend and Fat Tuesday are just days away and who would I be if I…

Read More

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate
How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Micro batch baking – the invitation is to get all the way into it with me!  This is all very Kristin Wiig  making herself a single, sad cupcake in the movie Bridesmaids, save for the fact that there is absolutely zero sadness in me eating a single cinnamon roll over the kitchen sink in my…

Read More

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.
Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

Think of tender breakfast rolls and cinnamon rolls without the cinnamon, scented with heavenly orange and just the right amount of warming nutmeg and ginger. Honestly if cinnamon rolls disappeared from the world, we’d all be just fine – these orange rolls hit the spot. I’m headed back to Los Angeles for the Christmas weekend…

Read More

Primary Sidebar

Fresh baked emails, delivered to your inbox

Jump to Recipe

Receive recipes from Joy the Baker and updates on events at The Bakehouse.

HI! I’M JOY!

Jump to Recipe

Welcome! This has been my little corner of the internet since 2008!

I’m a baker, photographer, cookbook author and teacher.  I live laugh love in New Orleans. 

MORE ABOUT JOY AND THE TEAM

BOOKS + Magazines

Jump to Recipe

JOY THE BAKER 2022 SUMMER MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2021 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

JOY THE BAKER 2020 HOLIDAY MAGAZINE

HOMEMADE DECADENCE

OVER EASY: SWEET AND SAVORY RECIPES FOR LEISURELY DAYS COOKBOOK

JOY THE BAKER COOKBOOK

Jump to Recipe
joy the baker on facebook joy the baker on twitter pinterest-social instagram-socialbloglovin-social

JOY @ WILLIAMS SONOMA

Jump to Recipe

SHOP THE CAKE LINE OF CAKE MIXES!

DRAKE ON CAKE

Jump to Recipe

Passionate from miles away since 2015.

Check it out on Instagram

Drake on cake instagram.

 

BREADS YOU’LL LOVE

jambalaya buttermilk biscuits in a row

Smoked Sausage Jambalaya Buttermilk Biscuits

inside of warm cinnamon roll on plate

How To Make The Best Single Serve Cinnamon Roll

Orange roll on a plate with a fork.

Christmas Morning Orange Rolls

LET’S MAKE COOKIES!

wider shot of lemon bars stacked on a plate with a bite taken out of one lemon bar

My Favorite Classic Lemon Bars Recipe

completed recipe close up shot of a blondie so the toasted almonds, chocolate chips, and sea salt can be seen

My Best Classic Blondie Recipe

cowboy cookies close up showing texture.

Cowboy Cookies with salted cereal brittle

Footer

Instagram

joythebaker

📚Baker and author of books and magazines
🎂Creator @drakeoncake
💁🏻‍♀️Classes with me @thebakehousenola
🍰 Products with @williamssonoma

joythebaker
Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cup Life Skill No. 458: How to Make 1️⃣2️⃣ Cupcakes with just 1️⃣ Stick of Butter⁣
⁣
Full recipe linked in my bio! xo
Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a Someone call @foodnetwork because Dad and I need a baking show stat. Here’s our very best chocolate chip cookies and all the little tips that make them perfection. ✨🍪 Find the full recipe linked in the profile!
We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this We’re baking the classics on Joy the Baker this month and up next, my very favorite Lemon Bar recipe with fresh lemon juice and the tiniest hint of coriander. ⁣🍋🌼✨
⁣
Find the full recipe linked in the profile and bust out the white chocolate and macadamia nuts for next week’s bake! ⁣
⁣
#lemonbars #easybaking #bakedfromscratch #joythebaker
Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little Day in the Life: out in the woods writing a little cookbook about camp food. 💖🏕️🙋🏻‍♀️
Homesick Banana Bread. Recipe linked in the profil Homesick Banana Bread. Recipe linked in the profile (and you don’t have to be homesick to make it). #bananabread #sundaybaking
Let’s make one single GIANT PANCAKE which is the Let’s make one single GIANT PANCAKE which is the perfect Breakfast Dessert or Spiral Bake - whatever you need it to be. ⁣
⁣
Pro Tips: Smell you buttermilk and decide it’s probably fine. Flip the pancake with reckless confidence. You can sit to eat - you don’t have to eat like you work in a restaurant anymore. ⁣
⁣
Find a version of the full recipe linked in the profile. Xo.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Joy the Baker
All rights reserved. Violators will be whupped and sent to bed with no dessert · Privacy Policy

Scroll Up