I’m writing to you from the middle of summer in subtropical Queensland. So, if you’re somewhere cold right now, sorry if this Coconut Rice Porridge with Passionfruit seems somewhat jarring. But I’m doing a new thing this year! Usually I can’t stand the heat – the constant sweat down your spine, thighs sticking to everything, hair a disaster of epic, wiry proportions – but this year I’m trying to play it cool. Instead of kvetching about the awful weather, I’m trying to trick my brain into forgetting it hates being hot, and just…enjoy it?
Does that sound crazy? I’m not trying to convince myself I’ on a tropical island, or on holiday. But I am telling my brain that the heat, although ever-present, is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s very relaxing, I will say that. And as long as you have cold drinks, and are taking advantage of the awesome fruit-bounty of the season, then dealing with hot weather pretty much boils down to controlling your crankiness.
When everything itches because it’s so hot? Just be fine with it. When you’re drinking so much water that you’re peeing 5000 times a day, but you still feel dehydrated? Just have another drink of water, it’s fine. And then when you’ve managed to keep it chill (there’s a reason those words are ‘chill’ and ‘cool’) then reward yourself with this to look forward to – either as dessert, a cheeky breakfast, or even an afternoon snack.
Creamy, vegan coconut rice, long-simmered in water and flavoured with nothing but coconut milk, and then smothered in the fluorescent pulp of as many passionfruits as you like. The bright spiky-sweetness of the passionfruit cutting through the rich aroma of the coconut rice like a knife through hot butter makes each mouthful of this more addictive than the last. And you can eat it out of a jar, which is super hipster and fun.
If you’re in Brisbane this weekend you’ll see me throwing a few of these into an esky (aka cooler, chilly bin, ice box, cool box) and heading to the beach first thing on Saturday morning. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the summer, can you?
- ½ cup short grain rice (arborio or pudding rice)
- 2 cups (500ml) water
- 1x 14oz can (440ml) coconut milk
- caster sugar, to taste
- passionfruit, to serve
- Place the rice and water into a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over a high heat.
- Turn the heat down as low as it will go, and cook the rice, stirring frequently, for about 20-30 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is almost cooked through.
- Add the coconut milk and continue cooking until the rice cooks through, and the rice porridge has the texture of custard - it should be more soupy than thick, as it will thicken as it cools.
- Taste the mixture and add sugar to sweeten, if desired. I think less is more here, so I only add 1-2tbsp usually.
- Cool the rice pudding and then serve with plenty of fresh passionfruit pulp over the top.
A good breakfast like this sounds perfect! And for me, I’d like to feel like I’m on a tropical holiday. It’s -30 degrees C in my city!!
I’m not normally a rice porridge person…maybe I just haven’t had the right one?
Kari
Girl! I totally feel you. I personally love this one, so definitely give it a go if you think it’s time to get back on the rice pudding wagon?!
xx
it’s pouring in southern california. which makes me want to do absolutely nothing. but this still sounds amazing, only if eaten warm instead of cold (during summer though, i’m totally with you on cold rice pudding).
I think this warm, with maybe some roasted fruit, would be HEAVENLY! xx
Ah, summer in Brisbane. Where we drink in the rarefied air of 40C days and nights and battle mosquitoes the size of birds…
And then get to eat coconut rice porridge to soothe our humidity-diluted souls. There is a reward for our subtropical paradise after all.
I love the combination of ingredients Sarah, and I think that packing these into an esky and heading to the beach sounds like the perfect way to spend a long, hot weekend :)
But seriously, the humidity. It’s a killer. Such a killer. xx
This looks great Sarah! I feel you on the heat. I’m on the other side of the Southern Hem and it’s definitely getting hot now so I think this is something I need to try. I love you’re plan for staying cool, I think I need to adopt it too!
It’s all in the head, right? I hope?! IT’S SO HAHT! xx
I’m SO jealous of your weather, do you want to trade for snow and cold ass temperatures?! :) That passionfruit is pretty AF and knows it
ABBY! I would totally trade! At least for a little while! xx Sarah
Oh take me back to Summer time. It’s been raining all week over here but that won’t stop me for having this coconut rice porridge.
Eat for the weather you want, not the weather you have! xx
Meanwhile, it’s rainy & cold & faux wintery over here in sydney this week (seriously, i just made french onion soup & a bagel bread pudding, because it’s that kind of weather)! But i have a glut of passionfruit that needs to be used & apparently the weather is due to change back to normal soon, so I’m making this today!
Ummm, bagel bread pudding? That sounds freaking delicious! Can I come down?
Ahhhh…Sticky thighs; sadly a condition I know all too well. You didn’t mention the flattering Sweat moustache, the BO perfume or vinyl butt burn in the car!!!
HAHAH – I can see that you feel my pain Lisa! xx
Any good substitutions for passionfruit? Would any fresh tropical fruit do?
Good Passionfruit is hard to come by here!
Hey Patricia – I think fresh mango would be a beautiful substitute, maybe with a squeeze of lime? My next favourite option is actually sliced fresh strawberries, macerated in a pinch of sugar so the juices run just a little. But really, you can use whatever you like. The possibilities are endless. xx
Sarah