Coconut Rice Pudding

Coconut rice pudding is a creamy, comforting dessert made by simmering rice in coconut milk with sugar and often aromatic spices like cardamom or pandan. It's a beloved treat found across Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and parts of South America, with variations like Thailand's 'Khao Niew Moon' or the Philippines' 'Ginataang Mais'.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is primarily a source of carbohydrates from the rice and healthy fats from the coconut milk, providing a moderate amount of calories, typically around 250-400 per serving. It offers key nutrients like manganese from the rice and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) from the coconut, which can provide quick energy.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	310 kcal
Protein	5 g
Carbs	52 g
Fat	10 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugar	30 g
Sodium	80 mg
Calcium	120 mg
Iron	1.5 mg
Potassium	250 mg
Magnesium	40 mg
Phosphorus	150 mg
Vitamin B12	0.3 mcg
Vitamin D	1.5 mcg
Selenium	8 mcg

Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, it's a versatile dish often served during festivals or as a comforting home-cooked dessert, with its sweetness and texture varying by region. Nutritionally, the use of coconut milk makes it a dairy-free alternative that's naturally rich in MCTs, which are metabolized differently than other fats and can be a source of sustained energy.