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Arroz con Coco

Sweet, creamy coconut rice studded with raisins — the coastal side dish that turns any plate into a Caribbean celebration.

⏱ 10 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 Colombian KitchenCategory
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Arroz con Coco

On Colombia’s Caribbean coast, rice is cooked in coconut milk and finished with panela and raisins, a legacy of the region’s African and indigenous roots. It is served alongside fried fish and patacones, where its gentle sweetness plays against all the salt and crunch.

Golden, sweet, and faintly tropical

Slow simmering lets the rice drink up the coconut milk until each grain is plump and creamy, with a hint of caramel from the panela. The raisins plump into little bursts of sweetness, and a shower of shredded coconut makes it feel like dessert at the dinner table.

Get the rice right every time with our How to Cook Perfect Rice Every Time.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear and drain well.
  2. In a heavy pot, bring the coconut milk and water to a simmer with the panela, salt, and cinnamon stick, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  3. Stir in the rice, cover, and cook over the lowest heat for 20 minutes.
  4. Scatter the raisins on top, cover again, and cook 5 minutes more.
  5. Turn off the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
  6. Fluff with a fork, remove the cinnamon, and serve warm, sprinkled with shredded coconut if you like.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Use full-fat coconut milk and the lowest heat you can — scorched coconut milk turns bitter. Leftovers keep 2 days refrigerated; reheat with a splash of milk or water to restore the creaminess.

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Recipe details

Prep10 min
Cook25 min
Servings6
CategoryColombian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →