Coconut Rice and Pomegranate Porridge! Healthy white carbs do exist! This gluten free and dairy free breakfast porridge makes for great performance fuel! A nourishing dish made with jasmine rice, coconut milk or cream, cinnamon, maple syrup, nuts, and cinnamon. The perfect combo of nutrient dense foods.
I’m seeing a trend here. Monday’s seem to bring about the need for a reboot and energy to get the the week. And I’m beginning to think I may need to rethink our weekend plans once Friday rolls around. That being said, I’m still going to keep this trend (theme) going. In fact, I’m going to keep it going ALL WEEK. Maybe then we’ll get it right and take a RESTFUL weekend. Hold me accountable, ok?
But back to this topic of fuel. You know I love making good fuel, gluten free of course. I’ve actually had a lot of people ask me for more easy gluten free recipes for their training, for their active kids, for traveling, etc. Hence why I am choosing to make this week gluten free FUEL week. One recipe will a breakfast (this one), one will be a drink (natural electrolytes), and one will be a snack or something portable. Sound good?
First up, Coconut Rice and Pomegranate Porridge! See, you’re perked up already! It’s made with jasmine rice, coconut milk or cream, cinnamon, maple syrup, nuts, and cinnamon. I call this the performance carb bowl because of the super powers of my favorite gluten free carb –> jasmine rice!
I know what you are thinking. Why white rice? Why not brown? Isn’t that more nutrient dense? Well, hear me out here. The reason white rice (preferably jasmine or organic rice) is call the “PERFORMANCE” carb is because you eat it simply for the glucose. Your muscles need glucose to recover after a hard session, run, workout, and therefore help improve your performance.
You see, unlike other grains, white rice doesn’t contain any anti-nutrients. This means you can digest is easily without it causing any inflammation or digestive stress. When are able to digest food properly, you will be able to absorb more nutrients with whatever nutrient dense food you pair it with. A reason why I made this dish with vitamin C rich POMEGRANATE and anti-oxidant rich cinnamon!
BONUES note — > Did you know that pomegranate is the most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits? And it has amazing immunity boosting effects. Just wanted to make sure you knew that, mmm ?
Okay, let’s continue the rice is nice talk.
Really! Rice is nice. Remember when I originally posted about why RICE IS a NICE recovery food? Yes, there’s more! White rice (heated then cooled) is a great resistant starch. A cheap starch that can help boost your gut flora (source). That’s a win win here folks!
Ya, I know. I talk a lot about gut health. But if you’re like me, then the gut is where you hold your stress and where you need the most TLC! Let’s face it, if you’re gut isn’t able to digest and absorb all those key nutrients, then you (we) won’t be able to properly recover from a workout, to maintain energy, or charge through the work week (mentally and physically)?
Print
Coconut Rice and Pomegranate Porridge
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
Coconut Rice and Pomegranate Porridge
Ingredients
- 1 cup jasmine rice (equals about 3 cups cooked)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Dash of salt
- 1/2 cup coconut milk or cream
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (or honey)
- cinnamon (to taste)
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- First rinse your rice. I usually let it soak for 10 minutes. Prepare rice according to instructions. Adding in 1 tbsp coconut oil and dash of salt while it cooks.
- Once the rice is cooked, transfer to a bowl. Mix in half your pomegranate seeds, cinnamon, coconut cream, and maple syrup. You can either eat right away or let it cool in fridge. Once you are ready to eat, top with the other 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds and nuts. Add more coconut milk and cinnamon if you want a thinner porridge. Spoon into bowls when ready to eat.
- Feel free to add in more nuts too! Makes about 3 servings all around 3/4 cup. Or 2 large servings.
Notes
If you want to make this for a hot breakfast, simply heat the bowl or coconut milk before pouring onto hot rice.
Get ready to bust out the rice cooker and switch up our breakfast with this tasty porridge! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Well, at least I hope not! haha. Keep me posted!
p.s. if you are having a crazy Monday already, just come over for breakfast, I gotcha covered!
A bowl for you, a for me!
What’s your favorite rice dish? Do you eat it for breakfast much?
Happy meatless Monday!
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Udi’s Gluten Free. The opinions and text are all mine.
Hi, I’m Lindsay! Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of 
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I am not thinking why not brown rice. I am thinking DAMN, why do I ALWAYS forget about rice as a breakfast meal. I have been meaning to try this for a long time, but keep forgetting. Time to pin…..that might help at least……maybe hehe 🙂 Thanks for sharing, jasmine rice is a good choice, and now I know its nutritional benefits. Thanks for linking up Lindsay!
i think you will like it! it’s actually great for travel too!
I seriously love your posts Lindsay, they are so informative and helpful alongside a delicious looking recipe. “But if you’re like me, then the gut is where you hold your stress and where you need the most TLC! ” Hit the nail on the head there! Keeping my gut healthy is so important as I am exactly the same!
yes, I know you can relate! and thanks for your kind words friend. xxoo
Your posts are so wonderful and informative. I hope you know how much they are appreciated by readers like me. Yum! This looks like a bowl of comfort. I make rice in so many different ways (mostly as a base for stir fries), but I always forget to use it mixed with sweet flavors. I use cream of rice in the morning, but have never used plain rice. I will definitely be trying this! Happy Monday 🙂
oh friend, thank you. I sure hope i can do more than just post recipes. I love sharing WHY food is made a certain way. i think it makes us appreciate it more, yes?
You know me, I LOVE my porridge breakfasts! Whilst I make whole grain rice breakfasts, I’d never really known about the nutritional qualities you mention here for white rice.
That’s me informed! Thanks, for an excellent post full of valuable information as well as another beautiful recipe. 🙂
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well your porridge recipes are always nourishing. But I think you’d love this too! xxoo
This makes me wish that I liked rice. Seriously. I just am not a huge rice person! I always pick out the extras that are thrown in there (like in fried rice, or in Caribbean rice) and leave the rice! Same thing with pasta! But I am totally on board with the flavor combo, and I adore pomegranite arils. They are truly super(delicious)foods.
that is so strange, why don’t you? LOL! jk! You can use oats no prob!
YESSSS. I love this, Lindsay! You’re a genius 😉 Will most certainly have to try this. Pinning for sure!
let me know if you do Ash!
This sounds so amazing for a sweet breakfast (or dinner!) with good carbs. Definitely something I’ll need for post run fuel. I will try this for sure!
I’ll be right over for breakfast! haha. How can Monday be crazy already??
Great for a sweet breakfast or some carb fuel. I haven’t been eating much oatmeal as of late, but this sounds like an amazing replacement.
i feel like jasmine rice is more summer friendly for texas, yes? haha
I could definitely go for this for breakfast this morning! Great fuel for cleaning my entire house and chasing around my 4 year old!
oh for sure! mama’s need their fuel!
I LOOOVE coconut rice. And cinnamon. And pomegranates. This looks like a breakfast for dinner kinda meal for me!
I’m always in need of fuel (for me, not the kids)…the kids have too much energy already! 🙂 I love this flavor combination. Aren’t pomegranate seeds the best? I don’t eat them nearly as often as I should. Pinned!
I actually do not each much rice.. not something I crave so I go for different carbs. I always love all the knowledge with your food!!!
Now that’s what I call a power breakfast. I need to try this asap!
This sounds delicious and is so pretty! I am of the “must only consume whole grains” mindset so I appreciate your information regarding white rice. Although I recently had a bout with pancreatitis and I know easing up on fiber is likely beneficial, it is hard to give myself permission to eat something I have viewed as “inferior.” But now I understand the benefit of embracing more foods than what I typically consume in my narrow world.
let me know if it helps! And i am so sorry about your pancreatitis. I definitely understand the fiber issue.
Thank you so much! I am always happy to see your posts in my inbox. You do a terrific job of relaying health information and your recipes never fail to to appeal. 🙂
Love this and love you! PS I didn’t realize most rice is gluten free.
I can’t remember the last time I ate white rice. No idea rice is nice…now. The [white] rice is not nice will be like breaking the no-fat low-fat mindset.
This looks amazing… I love using grains with fruit. It is such a great combo that most people don’t ever try!
i never think of rice a breakfast food..but this porridge has changed my mind.
So, so, so trying this one!
Growing up in Sri Lanka, we had rice for breakfast so often – it was called “kiribath” – a coconut milk and rice concoction! But we never had it with pomegranate! This is so so pretty and what a delightful combo!
Cooking rice in coconut is one of the best things!
This kinda reminds me of rice pudding, except better and for breakfast, I bet my dad would LOVE this, he’s a huge fan of rice pudding, plus this is actually good for him haha 🙂
i’ve never had a problem eating white rice, but rice for BREAKFAST is a new one to me. Combining it with coconut milk/oil though sounds heavenly. putting it on my to do list!!
The texture on this dish sound unreal! The popping pomegranate seeds and the chewy rice- Linds-umm, I want this right now. gah! So good!
Oh my, that sounds so good! I usually find rice boring in general (sorry) but like THIS?? Hell yes, I WANT to come over!!
but it’s so good in sushi! right?
I love rice especially when I’m training a lot, so I definitely must try this. I also really appreciate all the lessons on gut health – so important! I’m also looking forward to your whole week of gluten free fuel!
I absolutely love coconut rice so the addition of pomegranate is genius! Sounds so good, I bet chopped cherries would be great too!
oh yes! must try that!
I’ve always “thought” about making rice for breakfast, but I’ve never done it…I couldn’t definitely make this and definitely enjoy it…I’ll be right over! xoxo
EVERY time you post a rice recipe, especially a breakfast-y one, I drool! I need to make this!!!
What a delicious way to start the day! Sounds perfect to me, I could go for a bowl with chopped pecans and a drizzle of my homemade vanilla cinnamon cashew almond milk!
I can’t explain it, but I really love the word porridge.
Please come make me some for my birthday.
that is gorgeous! BTW, I kinda have to laugh, some of the non-nutrition types at my CF box who just go gangbusters on whatever (like strict paleo but lots of beer drinking) the other day are all like “yeah, white rice is good for you . . I heard brown rice sucks) . . . . now mind you, these people aren’t using it for the same kind of fuel a LD runner or triathlete would . . .I just stayed out of it. But, agreed — you do need some carbs to get and keep the motor going
oh yes, i’ve heard and seen all those types. I usually stay out of it too. Whatever works for them. 😉
Confession: white rice is my favourite, so I love that you’re showing it some love 🙂 And pomegranates are all sorts of amazing… I just wish it didn’t look like I just committed murder everything I went to peel one 😆
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I love this combo! How creative and yummy looking. Thanks for joining us!
thank you for hosting!
Hi Lindsay! Well this sounds just delicious. While I don’t eat gluten free, I don’t shy away from these kinds of recipes either. I’ve heard that white rice is better as a fuel for you at times, so this is interesting to hear your thoughts on why. Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
yay for rice is nice.haha. thanks Ashley!
Love pomegranate so much!! This paired with jasmine rice and coconut sounds fabulous! Pinning!! xo
let me know if you try it!
Holy moly this looks incredible! Pomegranate is one of my favorite fruits, and I adore coconut anything.
I’ve eaten brown rice breakfast bowls (always with banana and peanut butter) on several occasions, but I think I’m going to have to switch it up and try this soon!
You can feed me white rice, brown rice, black rice, jasmine rice and I’d happily eat it. This looks beautiful and the fact it’s great for me too is just more deliciousness.
Also take it easy this weekend and really rest and recover. Hey, you said to hold you accountable. 😉
and that is why i love you! Just woke up to this comment. Yes, getting more rest this weekend. MWAH!
This coconut rice and pomegranate porridge looks DELISH!! Do you buy your pomogranates already prepared (package of seeds) for you or do you buy whole pomegranate’s and break them down yourself to get to the fruit?
I’ve seen prepackaged seeds before and have tried them but they weren’t all that great tasting (guessing its the preservatives??).
I did find some prepackaged without any added! Where do you shop?
I’ve made breakfast dishes with rice and eggs (basically a fried egg over rice with salsa, cilantro and a little cheese) but I’ve never made a rice dish for breakfast like this. I’m going to have to make a trip to the grocery store to pick up some pomegranate so I can make this over the weekend. The flavors are incredible, Lindsey!
I made this today and it was SO YUMMY! Unfortunately, I ran out of nuts but that gives me the opportunity to make it again! I featured it (along with a link to your recipe) in my most recent blog.
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wonderful! so glad!
Coconut rice with POMEGRANATE look really yummy and different. Need to try it once for sure. Thank You
let me know if you do!
I made this because my stomach hurts so much from other foods and I just needed grace for my gut this morning.
From the recipe I could not tell if you were using canned or boxed coconut milk.
I used canned-well shaken- and wild Maine blueberries.
This is my new mercy breakfast!!
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Canned milk works great! So glad you enjoyed it Caron. Hope your stomach feels better!
I made this and it was delicious. I added lots of cinnamon because that’s what I like! It worked out great. I adapted it quite a bit for the kids and then they ate it too (not too many nuts of pomegranate seeds, just a few). Thanks for such a tasty recipe.
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Oh I love it! Great idea Edwina!
Loved this. Was thinking of rice pudding, but this is so much better and with nutritional benefit! Thanks!
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I’m so glad! Yes, totally like a rice porridge/pudding. that’s my husband’s favorite. hehe