Zanzibar Spiced Coconut Rice

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-12 · Updated 2026-04-12

A fragrant rice dish infused with Zanzibar's signature spices and coconut, perfect for pairing with grilled fish. This East African-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs long-grain white rice, coconut milk, fresh ginger for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups long-grain white rice
• 1.5 cups coconut milk
• 1.5 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 4 whole green cardamom pods
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tbsp lime zest

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear, then drain well.
2. Step 2: In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed rice, 1.5 cups coconut milk, grated ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and 1 tsp sea salt.
3. Step 3: Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 18 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Discard cardamom pods and cinnamon stick.
5. Step 5: Fluff rice gently with a fork, then stir in chopped cilantro and lime zest until evenly distributed and fragrant.