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    Home » Recipes » Variety Rice

    Thengai sadam, Coconut rice | South Indian

    June 30, 2011 by Raks Anand 65 Comments / Jump to Recipe

    Thengai sadam, coconut rice is a simple south Indian variety rice with a burst of flavors from fresh coconut and coconut oil.  Learn how to make thengai sadam with goodness of urad dal.

    Coconut-rice-thengai-sadam
    Coconut rice

    My brother is a big fan of thengai sadam that my mom makes, I too just love it.

    It's very flavorful and simple to make too. Mom adds lots of soaked, roasted  urad dal to this rice, which makes it protein rich.

    Always the roasted urad dal and coconut is a winning combo, just like in coconut thogayal.

    Recently I tasted coconut rice in a restaurant at Kerala, which is the very first time I tasted coconut rice other than mom's.

    thengai sadam | coconut rice
    Coconut rice, thengai sadam

    It had lots of light coconut oil, topped with cashew nuts. Using edible coconut oil or ghee enhances the flavor of coconut rice (thengai sadam).

    Amma adds green chilli in her coconut rice, I love it, but red chillies also add a great flavour if added along tempering with asafoetida.

    Related read: How to make idli batter

    Coconut-rice-thengai-sadam
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Thengai sadam recipe | Coconut rice

    Thengai sadam, coconut rice is a simple south Indian variety rice with a burst of flavors from fresh coconut and coconut oil.  Learn how to make thengai sadam with goodness of urad dal.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian, South Indian
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes
    Soaking time 1 hour
    Servings 3
    Cup measurements

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup Rice
    • ¼ cup Urad dal white
    • ½ cup Coconut grated
    • Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Ghee

    To temper

    • 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil /ghee
    • ½ teaspoon Mustard
    • 6 cashew nuts
    • 4 Green or red chilli
    • 1 Curry leaves sprig
    • Asafoetida a generous pinch
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Cook rice with ratio 1:2 (adjust the water ratio according to the rice variety you use for 3 – 4 whistles.
    • Add a teaspoon of ghee and required salt and fluff the rice.
    • Soak urad dal for 1 hour, drain the water and dry roast it in a pan until its turns golden brown and nice aroma wafts.
    • You can skip this step and add the urad dal while tempering too, but make sure to keep enough oil for tempering.
    • Heat the pan with oil, temper with the items given under the ‘To temper’ table in order.
    • Add the coconut and roasted urad dal and just give it a stir for ½ minute.
    • Add cooked rice to it and mix well.
    • Top with remaining ghee, drizzle with generous coconut oil as garnish.

    Notes

    • Roasting the urad dal well is a must, otherwise it will become chewy.
    • Coconut oil is recommended as it lends a lot of flavour to the recipe. Make sure to use virgin coconut oil and use more without any guilt - 3 tablespoon for this recipe.
    • Do not use hands for mixing as coconut rice tends to get spoiled easily. Make sure to roast coconut well, this prevents from spoiling soon.
    • Also adding lots of oil prevents spoiling.
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    Stepwise photos

    1. Cook rice firstly with ratio 1:2 (adjust the water ratio according to the rice variety you use) for 3 – 4 whistles. Once done, add a teaspoon of ghee and required salt. Then fluff the rice gently and set aside.

    2. Soak urad dal for 1 hour, drain the water and dry roast it in a pan until its turns golden brown and nice aroma wafts

    3. You can skip this step and add the urad dal while tempering too, but make sure to keep enough oil for tempering.

    4. After that, heat the pan with oil, temper with the items given under the ‘To temper’ table in order.

    temper

    5. Then add coconut and roasted urad dal and just give it a stir for ½ minute. 

    6. Finally, add cooked rice to it and mix well.

    7. Top with remaining ghee, drizzle with generous coconut oil as garnish.

    thengai sadam ready

    Enjoy the flavorful rice with vadavams or any tomato based tangy curry.

    thengai sadam
    coconut rice

    Other Easy Indian Rice Recipes

    • Easy capsicum rice recipe | Capsicum bath
    • Blue rice, South Indian style | Butterfly pea flower rice
    • Kids friendly Fried rice recipe, American fried rice style
    • Carrot rice recipe | Easy variety rice for kids

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ramya Bala

      June 30, 2011 at 4:43 am

      Yummy...with pickle super Yumm 😉

      Reply
    2. Divya Kudua

      June 30, 2011 at 4:53 am

      Wow..adding urad dal to rice is something new.Looks great and the first pic of rice in a ladle looks cute!

      Reply
    3. Mahi

      June 30, 2011 at 5:04 am

      Adding urad dhal is new to me! Easy lunch box recipe!

      Reply
    4. Sharmilee! :)

      June 30, 2011 at 5:06 am

      I luv coconut rice too...Urs look flavourful and tempting. We do the same way too except for we add green chillies and jeera. Lovely clicks Raji esp the first one pathute irukanum pola iruku 🙂

      Reply
    5. Rekha shoban

      June 30, 2011 at 5:36 am

      soaking urad dal is very interesting...nice flavour n yummy rice...perfect for lunchbox!

      Reply
    6. Prathibha

      June 30, 2011 at 6:04 am

      I love coconut rice..we too make this version but adding soaked urad dal in larger proportion is something that I never tried...loved the 1st click very much Raji...:)

      Reply
    7. Satrupa

      June 30, 2011 at 6:07 am

      Yummy and lovely clicks !!

      Reply
    8. Annapoorani

      June 30, 2011 at 6:11 am

      soaking urad dal and adding it is pretty new...I shall try it out and thanks for the yummy dish 🙂

      Reply
    9. lata raja

      June 30, 2011 at 6:17 am

      I add urad dhal, but not so much! you have me thinking of the aromatic flavour the dhal will add to this! Got to try!

      Reply
    10. Hari Chandana

      June 30, 2011 at 6:28 am

      Lovely and tempting recipe.. looks awesome dear.. Yummy !!
      Indian Cuisine

      Reply
    11. Priya

      June 30, 2011 at 7:20 am

      Love coconut rice anytime,can survive for many days with this flavourful rice..

      Reply
    12. Priya Sreeram

      June 30, 2011 at 7:38 am

      super-yum looking rice !

      Reply
    13. Priti

      June 30, 2011 at 8:11 am

      Never tried making this ...looks yum

      Reply
    14. Nithya

      June 30, 2011 at 8:26 am

      I'm not a great fan of coconut. But your version is kind of different and interesting. Love that serving bowl(or is it a laddle) 😉 anyways looks very cute 🙂

      Reply
    15. Jaishree

      June 30, 2011 at 8:34 am

      My husband is a gr8 fan of thengai sadam. I too prepare in the same way. your looks delicious& tempting. Love the click:)

      Reply
    16. kaveri

      June 30, 2011 at 9:12 am

      Adding soaked urad dal is very new to me...coconut rice looks delicious

      Reply
    17. jeyashrisuresh

      June 30, 2011 at 10:34 am

      Wonderful and aromatic rice and nice presentation too.Love the addition of urad dal in more quantity

      Reply
    18. Hamaree Rasoi

      June 30, 2011 at 11:30 am

      I love preparing this coconut rice.Your's looking wonderful. And lovely clicks as usual

      Deepa
      Hamaree Rasoi

      Reply
    19. Prathima Rao

      June 30, 2011 at 12:36 pm

      A handful of ings to create this wonderful, aromatic rice!!! Loved it 🙂
      Prathima Rao
      Prats Corner

      Reply
    20. Suja

      June 30, 2011 at 12:59 pm

      FFlavorful and tempting rice..makes me hungry..

      Reply
    21. Ramya

      June 30, 2011 at 2:16 pm

      I love coconut rice.:-) The crunchiness from roasted urud dal and slight sweetness fro coconut..It just irresistible!!Great clicks

      Reply
    22. Shanavi

      June 30, 2011 at 3:11 pm

      adding soaked urad dal is new to me Raks, lookd delicious..

      Reply
    23. miri goes phishing!

      June 30, 2011 at 3:12 pm

      that really looks so nice...i would just love to try this...:)

      Reply
    24. aipi

      June 30, 2011 at 3:33 pm

      Love how each grain of rice stands nicely separated ~ the first click is wonderful!
      US Masala

      Reply
    25. Purabi Naha

      June 30, 2011 at 4:01 pm

      yummy coconut rice! I had a Tamil friend in my schooldays...her mom used to make yummy coconut rice...your dish reminds me of my childhood days! Excellent presentation!!
      http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com

      Reply
    26. Archana

      June 30, 2011 at 4:20 pm

      Yummy. Excellent pictures and dish. Mu hubby will love it.

      Reply
    27. Vimitha Anand

      June 30, 2011 at 4:41 pm

      Sp yummy and flavorful rice... Would be great with some mango pickle...

      Reply
    28. Anonymous

      June 30, 2011 at 4:43 pm

      I love coconut rice but have never added urad dal . Will try like this next time.

      Reply
    29. Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal

      June 30, 2011 at 4:47 pm

      wow, adding dal to it is a great twist, sounds superb !!!

      Reply
    30. S.Menaga

      June 30, 2011 at 5:48 pm

      எனக்கும் தே.சாதம் ரொம்ப்ப்ப்ப்ப்ப பிடிக்கும்.உளுத்தம்பருப்பை இந்தளவுக்கு அதிகமா போட்டு ஊறவைத்து செய்ததில்லை.இப்படி செய்வதால் இன்னும் வாசனையா நல்லாயிருக்கும்.செய்துடவேண்டியதுதான்....

      Reply
    31. Divya Vikram

      June 30, 2011 at 7:46 pm

      Love the wooden spoon. Thengai satham looks perfectly done!

      Reply
    32. Santosh Bangar

      June 30, 2011 at 8:33 pm

      prepration and presentation are super

      Reply
    33. Sobha Shyam

      June 30, 2011 at 8:52 pm

      simple, lovely and delicious rice, great presentation, very tempting one..

      Ongoing Event at Good Food:
      COOK IT HEALTHY:PROTEINicious

      Reply
    34. Swathi

      June 30, 2011 at 9:27 pm

      Thengai sadam looks delicious I love them as amma makes more often.

      Reply
    35. Anonymous

      June 30, 2011 at 10:57 pm

      So simple light and quick to make. Love the presentation too.
      http://www.sunshineandsmile.com

      Reply
    36. divya

      July 01, 2011 at 1:32 am

      Lovely and tempting recipe.. looks awesome dear.. Yummy !!

      Reply
    37. GEETHA ACHAL

      July 01, 2011 at 3:37 am

      ரொம்ப அருமையாக இருக்கு ராஜி..

      அம்மா இப்படி தான் செய்வாங்க....இத்துடன் வெங்காயமும் சேர்த்து கொள்வாங்க.ஆனால் நான் செய்ததில்லை...கண்டிப்பாக் செய்து பார்க்க வேண்டும்...

      Reply
    38. Aarthi

      July 01, 2011 at 3:38 am

      i love this

      Reply
    39. ANU

      July 01, 2011 at 5:16 am

      wow! beautiful plating!

      Happy to follow you....

      Drop into my space when time permits:
      http://anuzhealthykitchen.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    40. Sanctified Spaces

      July 01, 2011 at 6:16 am

      Thats a good tip for urad dal.Not a big fan of thenga saadham ,but maybe this tip will make it taste better.Must try this.

      Reply
    41. Sushma Mallya

      July 01, 2011 at 8:54 am

      Looks delicious Raji ...I do it in differnt way soaking urad dal and frying is something v differnt ...It must have been v v flavourful:)

      Reply
    42. Suman Singh

      July 01, 2011 at 10:19 am

      Looks delicious and great pics!!

      Reply
    43. swapna

      July 01, 2011 at 11:06 am

      Never tried adding dhal....looks tempting!!

      Reply
    44. Anonymous

      July 01, 2011 at 3:02 pm

      I love your karandi

      Reply
    45. Malar Gandhi

      July 01, 2011 at 3:51 pm

      Beautiful click as usual...love it.

      Please trail back to me at my new junction part II - http://www.kitchen-mantra.blogspot.com, for the latest updates.

      Reply
    46. sanjeeta kk

      July 03, 2011 at 4:36 am

      How lovely picture, Raji! Feel like making some right now.

      Lite Bite

      Reply
    47. hemalata

      July 03, 2011 at 11:04 am

      Yummy dish and nice click.

      Reply
    48. ♥LOVE2COOK♥

      July 03, 2011 at 12:28 pm

      Feels so hungry right now...tummy is making so much noise! It wants your coconut rice dear!!! 😀

      Reply
    49. Rakesh Kumar

      July 05, 2011 at 5:25 pm

      I am pure veg. My wife would like to learn from you.It seems to be delicious only.
      I have followed your blog.

      Reply
    50. myfudo

      August 29, 2011 at 4:11 pm

      Thai food has always been one of our Asian choice. This rice looks spicy and enticing.

      Reply
    51. Priya nic

      December 06, 2012 at 10:32 am

      Hi Raks, I wanted to write from long long time but couldn't finally got a right time, I have been blogging ur site from past 6 to 8 months and trying out various recipes,I must say every thing was super dooper hit. I tried varies sweets, paratha, rice varieties, kulambhu n especially cakes all were hit, have been trying different rice varities for my hubby for lunch box ,those were tasty.. Today tried thengai sadam that also was super tasty... U know I m very very big fan of ur site, I keep browsing ur site to try new dishes.. All have come out supper till now,, daily wen I login even before checking my mails or FB page I first login to ur site to check the new recipes wat u ve posted, gone crazy!! Sometimes I even think why she is not non vegetarian, if so I would have mastered in those dishes as well :((((( all the best hope to see lots n lots of dishes from your side... Good luck.

      Reply
    52. Meenal Ramanathan

      October 30, 2013 at 11:57 am

      hi raks
      i tried ur thengai sadam today.it was very tasty.
      i have one doubt.why should we soak and roast the urad dhal (it takes long time).
      if we dry roast also we will get golden brown urad dhals.
      will the the taste, texture differs

      Reply
    53. Raks anand

      October 30, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      Yes my mom does the same so I follow it. That never changes colour still gives nice flavor and texture

      Reply
    54. Meenal Ramanathan

      October 31, 2013 at 3:01 am

      hi raks
      i tasted after i prepared i was able to get crispyness of urad dhal.
      but when i had for lunch all the urad dhals was chewy
      can u help me to locate where i went wrong

      Reply
    55. garvam

      November 20, 2013 at 12:10 am

      Hi
      Why can't tyhe urad dal be added with the tamper? With oil it will be well roasted right?

      Reply
    56. Raks anand

      November 20, 2013 at 12:19 am

      It will be hard to bite.

      Reply
    57. Thangalakshmi maharajan

      January 18, 2014 at 2:31 pm

      Hi Raks!
      I am a regular follower of ur blog!
      Though it's a bit embarrassing , i couldnt stop myself from asking u about the wooden scoop..its so good,,,, pls tell me where u got it!!Sorry for being so silly and thanks in advance!

      Reply
    58. Raks anand

      January 18, 2014 at 2:35 pm

      Thanks absolutely fine, you can ask. I got it from Tangs Singapore.

      Reply
    59. Subashini

      August 05, 2015 at 5:41 pm

      Hi raji. .I came to this recipe link from aadi Peruku menu..I guess there is a mistake in the ingredients details. There is a section called "to roast and powder" in that..However in the method you have mentioned as "to temper"..can you please check and correct it...I am planning to make it for the festival...hope you don't mind pointing it out...Thanks. .

      Reply
    60. Raks anand

      August 05, 2015 at 5:51 pm

      Thanks for pointing out. Will edit. It was a mistake when i edited something else

      Reply
    61. Subashini

      August 09, 2015 at 2:47 am

      Thanks raji..appreciate your prompt response..i tried your pulikachal recipe for aadi 18...the measurements and instructions were so perfect that the result was awesome...thnx again...

      Reply
    62. Saranya

      August 09, 2016 at 12:47 pm

      I have already told you this Raks, you & my mother share the same name 'Raji'. When it comes to cooking, both the Rajis are dictionaries for me (you for Tambrahm style & my mom for her Palakkad cuisines). So, the other day (Aadi perukku), I wanted to make coconut rice and having never tried it yet was scared. It was too early in the morning to disturb my mother so I came to where else! My Raks kitchen. Please don't have any doubts about the result. You make the most average cooks do great stuff with your simple and standard ingredients, measurements, steps.
      My daughter is only seven months old, but when she starts cooking some day, I will definitely tell her, "Hey girl, get to Raks & the rest will be a piece of cake just as it was for your mom when she was newly married and took baby steps into the room called kitchen".
      Keep Rocking Raks 🙂 And, thank you from the bottom of my heart

      Reply
    63. Raks anand

      August 09, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      Thanks a lot Saranya 🙂 🙂 Make me feel so content when I read your comment, that I am doing something useful :')

      Reply
    64. Uma Thangaraj

      August 20, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this today.. turned out very nice .thanks for the recipe raks

      Reply
      • Raks Anand

        August 23, 2020 at 8:47 am

        Thank you so much 🙂

        Reply

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    Raks anand

    Hi, I'm Rajeswari Vijayanand! I am the person behind Rakskitchen, sharing recipes with pictures & videos.

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