
Tropical Coconut Fruit Rice Pilaf

I love anything tropical flavored and find any excuse to add some coconut or pineapple to my recipes. This tropical coconut fruit rice pilaf hits the spot for my tropical kick. It just takes a few extra steps and ingredients (pineapple and coconut, of course) to make this unique rice pilaf! My tropical rice pilaf can serve as a side dish or as an entree. Instead of using coconut milk to cook the rice, I switch to a low fat and delicious alternative, Vita Coco Coconut Water.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of Vita Coco Coconut Water
2 cups of brown rice
1/8 cup flax seed
1/4 cup chopped mandarin oranges
1/4 cup chopped pineapple
1/8 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
salt to taste
pepper to taste
Instructions
1
Pour 2 1/2 cups of the original Vita Coco Coconut Water into a large pot and put on the stove at medium-high heat.
2
Once lightly boiling, pour 2 cups of brown rice into the pot, turn the heat down to medium and cover.
3
Toast about 1/8 cup of flax seed to bring out the nutty flavor. Set the heat to medium to medium-high for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4
Add the flax seed to the rice and place the lid back on the pot.
5
Chop 3/4 cup of mandarin oranges (I buy organic canned mandarin oranges).
6
Chop 3/4 cup of pineapple (or you can buy a can of crushed pineapple).
7
Combine 1/8 cup of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until the brown sugar dissolves
8
Once the rice has absorbed most of the coconut water, add the mandarin oranges, pineapple and the brown sugar mixture.
9
Let the remaining liquid absorb into the rice and fruit, then take off heat and salt and pepper to taste.
Categories:Sides & Snacks
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