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Home » Lunch » Rice Varieties » Coconut Rice | How to make Thengai Saadam

Coconut Rice | How to make Thengai Saadam

Aug 12, 2020 · Modified: Apr 26, 2025 by Priya_Srinivasan ·

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Coconut rice, a south-indian style mixed rice dish, made with fresh coconut, chiilies and rice. It is called Thengai saadam/saatham and a most commonly made lunch box recipe too.

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Coconut rice

The Food

Thengai is the Tamil name for coconut. This mixed rice is easy and quick to make and takes less than 20 minutes , if you have cooked rice ready. And for the same reason, is an apt recipe for lunch box, during busy weekdays. And also a great brunch recipe for a relaxed weekend.

I makeThengai saadham, mostly for my husband's lunch box. I pack it with a dry subzi or a semi-gravy side-dish. Unlike Lemon rice, coconut rice is not prefered as travel food, as it is made of fresh coconut which might go stale after 6-8 hours.

Side dishes for Thengai Saadham

  • Bhindi masala
  • Ennai Kathrikaai
  • Jodhpuri aloo
  • Amla raita

This mixed rice is a great dish to make during pooja as offering, especially during festivals like Navrathri and Chathurthi . These quick rice dishes come very handy.

Thengai saadham

More Lunch Box Recipes

  • Minty peas rice
  • Green peas rice with brown rice

How to make Coconut Rice

This mixed rice takes just 10 minutes if you have the rice ready. The rice should be nice and fluffy and separated. This will give you the mixed rice a wonderful texture.

i prefer to use coconut oil to make coconut rice, it gives a wonderful aroma to the variety rice. Try using fresh coconut and also be generous with crunchy elements in your tempering, as they add a great texture and flavor to the mixed rice.

Coconut Rice | Thengai Saadam | South-indian style

Coconut rice is a south-indian style mixed rice dish, made with fresh coconut, chiilies and rice. It is called Thengai saadam/saatham and it is a most commonly made lunch box recipe too.
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Coconut rice recipe, Easy mixed rice recipe, How to make mixed rice, How to make quick mixed rice, Pooja offering recipe, Quick to make coconut rice recipe, Vegan coconut rice
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Tempering and mixing: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Calories:

Ingredients

  • 1&½ cups cooked rice
  • ½ cup freshly grated coconut
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoon broken cashew-nuts
  • fresh coriander leaves for garnish chopped
  • 2 pinches of freshly pounded coriander powder

Tempering

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds/kadugu
  • 4-5 nos red chilies or 2-3 green chilies
  • 1 teaspoon urad dal
  • 1 teaspoon chana dal
  • ⅛ teaspoon hing/asafoetida
  • a sprig of curry leaf

Instructions

  • Spread the rice on a plate and fluff it with a fork. If using leftover rice, then i would suggest steam it a little in the Microwave or on the stove-top.
  • If you are planning to cook rice fresh, then rinse 1 cup of rice 3 or 4 times with water. Add 2 cups of fresh water, cook the rice on stove-top, once the rice is 90% done, strain the extra water completely and keep it covered for 10 minutes. If making in pressure cooker, cook for 3 whistles.
  • In a wide pan, heat oil. Splutter mustard seeds, add hing and curry leaves.  once the leaves turns crisp, add red chilies. saute for a minute, next add both the dals and fry until they turn light brown.
  • Keep an eye after adding dals, they turn brown pretty quick, now add cashew nuts and saute for 30 seconds. Next add fresh coconut and fry for a minute or two.  Take it off the stove
  • Add the cooked rice to the coconut and mix well. Add salt mix well,. Add fresh coriander leaves to the rice.
  • I sprinkle a pinch or two of freshly pounded coriander powder, that adds a great taste to the rice.
  • Toss it once and serve warm with your favorite curry.  Or pack it for the lunch box.

Disclaimer

I m not a Doctor or a Nutritionist The Nutrition information provided above comes from the plugin and is only an estimate.

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thengai kalandha saadam

Serve this delicious Thengai saadham with Beans subzi or cabbage subzi . I normally prefer mixed rice dishes with appalam/poppadam

If you have tried this recipe and like it, give it a star rating or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #icampinmmykitchen and tagging me @priyasrinivasan
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Coconut rice pin

More Rice Varieties

  • Kambu Soru | Kambu Sadam | Bajra Rice | Millet Recipe
  • Bisibela bath served with ghee and appalam
    Bisi Bele Bath | How to make Bisi Bele Bath | Sambar Sadam Recipe
  • Aava Pettina Pulihora | Andhra Style Tamarind Rice
  • Matar pulao with brown basmati rice
    Green Peas Pulao | Matar Pulao with Brown Rice

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 12 votes

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  1. Unknown

    January 08, 2016 at 5:07 am

    My favorite rice

    Reply
  2. priya

    January 08, 2016 at 10:23 am

    I love the favors you added .. This is a must try coconut recipe.....

    Reply
  3. Rafeeda AR

    January 10, 2016 at 6:52 am

    Delicious rice!

    Reply
  4. Kalyani

    January 13, 2016 at 10:42 am

    thengai saadam is my weakness 🙂 with Morkozhambu its just heaven.. loved the clicks 🙂

    Reply
  5. Lata Lala

    August 20, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    5 stars
    Coconut always makes me go week on my knees. Your coconut rice looks amazing with beautiful blend of flavours. A must try recipe.

    Reply
  6. Bless my food by Payal

    August 21, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    5 stars
    I love anything having coconut. And these coconut rice are not just delicious only but very helpful recipe in case you have river in leftovers.

    Reply
  7. Pavani

    August 24, 2020 at 4:45 am

    5 stars
    Such a simple and flavorful rice recipe. I am always looking for dishes to pack for lunches and this sounds just perfect.

    Reply
  8. Mayuri Patel

    August 27, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    5 stars
    I can have coconut rice on its own as I find it so flavorful. Such a easy rice dish to prepare and pretty versatile as it can be served with any curry, sambar or kadhi too.

    Reply
  9. Archana

    August 27, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    5 stars
    I Love coconut rice but not made it in ages now. You are reminding me that I have nothing planned for tomorrow! 😀 Love it Priya I am making this Thengai Saadam tomorrow. Thanks.

    Reply
  10. Archana

    August 27, 2020 at 8:05 pm

    5 stars
    I Love coconut rice but not made it in ages now. You are reminding me that I have nothing planned for tomorrow! 😀 Love it Priya I am making this Thengai Saadam tomorrow. Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Sandhya Ramakrishnan

    August 28, 2020 at 1:17 am

    5 stars
    A must needed recipe for quick lunch or for neivedhyam. I make this every time I grate my batch of coconut. It just tastes amazing with fresh coconut.

    Reply
  12. Uma Srinivas

    August 28, 2020 at 2:11 am

    5 stars
    Such a simple and flavorful rice recipe. We like this rice with daal and pickle.

    Reply
  13. Amrita Roy

    August 28, 2020 at 8:00 am

    5 stars
    Aroma of freshly prepared coconut rice is irresistible. You reminded me my Chennai days.. beautifully explained recipe with lovely click

    Reply
  14. Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey

    August 28, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    Absolutely love subtle flavours of coconut in rice, it makes so silky too. I must try south Indian flavours next time!

    Reply
  15. Padma Veeranki

    August 29, 2020 at 12:22 am

    5 stars
    Simple yet delicious one pot meal...I love anything with coconut...perfect for any meal or neivedhyam for upcoming festivals!

    Reply
  16. sapana

    August 29, 2020 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    I love all those varieties of south Indian rice recipes. This coconut rice is one of my favorites from that list. Wonderful recipe Priya.

    Reply
  17. Lathiya

    September 04, 2020 at 1:46 am

    5 stars
    Coconut rice is one of my favorite variety of rice. When I have a time constraints, I make this often with potato fry.

    Reply

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