Spicy Rice, Mango and Coconut Salad

EVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE
THEME : AN INGREDIENT BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER R
RECIPE: SPICY RICE, MANGO AND COCONUT SALAD
Spicy Rice, Mango and Coconut Salad
So how did I decide to make a salad with a long name like Spicy Rice, Mango and Coconut Salad? Well, whenever I have a bit of plain rice leftover, I like to make what we Gujjus call Vagharelo Bhaat. That simply means tempered rice. Add a bit of onion, a bit garlic, green chillis, fresh coriander, turmeric, red chilli powder, cumin seeds with a dash of salt, lemon juice and vagharelo bhaat is ready. To make it into a filling and healthy meal, I added a few salad ingredients. And there, in a jiffy a tasty rice salad is ready. With mangoes in season, I added semi ripe chopped mango to give the salad a bit of tanginess and the natural sweetness from fresh coconut.
Memories
I remember my mum would always prepare Vagharelo Bhaat for us to enjoy whenever there was any leftover rice. There was no fixed time when we could enjoy it, for breakfast, in between meals, afternoon tea, or as part of a meal. Sometimes I wonder did she purposely make more rice so we could enjoy this spicy rice? Well, will never know that but every time I make the spicy rice, it reminds me of my mum.
Some Dishes You May Want to Check Out:
- Using Rice Flour – gluten free Rice Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Famous Gujarati Snack – Papdi No Lot or Khichu using rice flour
- Have you tried Black Rice Phirni? Its not only colorful but so delicious.
- Or try Black Rice Pudding with Mangoes the way its served in Indonesia.
- Red Rice Kheer using jaggery adds a lot of earthy taste
- Try out Bean Sprout and Radish Leaves Salad – right time to try this salad as with winter will come extra crispy and fresh radish leaves.
- Use grated white radish and the leaves to make delicious hot Mooli Parathas for breakfast.
- I like to make a simple sabji/shaak/side dish using ridge gourd with peas – Turia Matar nu Shaak
- Use leftover rice to make some delicious Rice Vada – healthy as I make them in an appe pan, so not deep fried
- You’ve got to try the traditional Swahili breakfast dish Vitumbua made from rice. I love to serve it with honey drizzled on it or with some orange syrup and chocolate sauce.
- And my all time favorite is Khatti Kanki, using broken rice. Its a Gujarati rice dish where broken rice is cooked with spices and yogurt. Enjoy it on its own or with some spicy potato shaak.
- I use edible rose petals, rose syrup and rose liqueur to prepare these festive rose flavored mini cupcakes.
A bit about the group
A – Z Recipe Challenge group started by fellow bloggers Vidya and Jolly, is themed based. This month we have to use any ingredient whose English name begins with R. Compared to letter Q, finding food names with R seems like a breeze. From raisins, raspberries, radicchio, rosemary, red currants, red cabbage, radish, rhubarb, romaine lettuce, rose apples, ridge gourd and so many more. I chose rice as my ingredient at the last minute. I was suppose to use ricotta cheese but it didn’t get from my online shopping. Yes still relying on online shopping for all my essentials as the second wave of Covid is worse.
Vidya blogs at Masala Chilli, and Jolly’s blog Homemade Recipes offer recipes from two ends of India. Vida’s are largely Tamil Cuisine based and Jolly’s is where you’ll find some yummy Punjabi recipes. I use ridge gourd quite often but have not tried making it with Toor dal as Vidya does. Her Peerkangai Kootu is bookmarked to try out soon. I first came across Jolly’s Tawa Pulao (spicy rice prepared on a skillet or tawa)recipe some years back and to date prepare it whenever I have some leftover bhaji from my pav bhaji.
Ingredients required for Spicy Rice, Mango and Coconut Salad:
- Leftover Plain Rice – can also use leftover brown rice.
- Onion – any of your choice, finely chopped. I’ve used red onion.
- Garlic – either chop finely or mince it.
- Green Chillis – sliced. I prefer the bite it adds to the salad. However, you can mince it. If you don’t like chilli food, then omit green chillis.
- Oil – any of your choice. I used sunflower seed oil.
- Cumin Seeds – jeera. Easily available in stores or Indian Grocery stores.
- Turmeric Powder – haldi, hardar
- Red Chilli Powder – use according to your taste
- Mango – I’ve used semi ripe mango which is not very sour.
- Cucumber – chop into sticks or cubes
- Fresh Coconut – either chop it or grate it
- Pomegranate Arils – if you don’t have pomegranate add chopped grapes or apple.
- Carrot – grated or chopped
- Cashew Nuts – roasted and chopped. Can use any nuts of your choice
- Salt – according to your taste. I’ve used Himalayan Pink Salt
- Fresh Coriander – chopped along with the stem, as that part is very flavourful
- Lemon Juice
Dietary Tips:
- Gluten Free
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Healthy

SPICY RICE, MANGO AND COCONUT SALAD
Ingredients
- 1 cup leftover rice
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1-2 green chillis sliced
- 1 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ cup ripe mango diced
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- ¼ cup fresh coconut diced or grated
- ¼ cup grated carrot
- ¼ cup pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup roasted cashew nuts cut into smaller pieces
- ½ tsp salt
- 2-3 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
- 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Heat oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
- When it becomes hot add cumin seeds.
- As soon as the seeds begin to sizzle, add the chopped onion.
- Stir fry the onion for 1 minute.
- Add chopped garlic and green chillis. Mix well.
- Add turmeric powder and mix well.
- Immediately add the rice and salt.
- Mix it well.
- Add the red chilli powder and take the pan off the heat.
- Mix the rice well and let it cool.
- In the meantime cut the cucumber, coconut and mango.Grate the carrot.
- Add to a mixing bowl.
- Add chopped coriander, pomegranate arils and chopped cashew nuts.
- Mix in the spicy rice.
- Drizzle some lemon juice over it. Mix well.
- Serve.
Tips:
- Add salad ingredients of your choice.
- This salad does not require a dressing but if you want, go for a good vinaigrette.
- Don't over cook the onion, garlic and chillis as you want them to be a bit crunchy.
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A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
40 Comments
Shobha Keshwani
November 17, 2020 at 1:58 am
This is definitely my kind of dish, spicy tangy and flavourful. I like the addition of raw mango. When in season I also like adding it in various dishes. This one pot meal is so satisfying with a papad and curd for accompaniments.
mayurisjikoni
November 17, 2020 at 4:41 pm
Thanks Shobha and thanks for the suggestion of serving this salad with some papad. We did have it with some chaas.
Aruna
November 17, 2020 at 7:20 am
I am trying to imagine what this dish tastes like. It is such a wonderful medley of flavours that can please anyone. A great brunch idea.
mayurisjikoni
November 17, 2020 at 4:40 pm
Thank you so much Aruna and yes its a great brunch option.
Super duper kitchen
November 17, 2020 at 1:35 pm
A salad with rice sounds interesting. This salad has got almost all the flavours in it. Loved the addition of mango and it will give an unique touch to this salad. This ll be a wholesome meal for me.
mayurisjikoni
November 30, 2020 at 9:53 pm
thank you so much Niranjana. Mango does add a unique flavour to the rice salad.
Swati Verma
November 18, 2020 at 6:40 am
This sounds a very flavourful salad with raw mangoes. It’s a kind of Light and nutritious mini meal for me.. Will surely try when raw mangoes are in season.. it’s good that you are still getting these at your place..
mayurisjikoni
November 18, 2020 at 3:24 pm
Thank you so much Swati. For us too its like a mini meal.
The Girl Next Door
November 18, 2020 at 12:06 pm
You have elevated something as humble as leftover cooked rice into a beautiful Asian-style salad. With the semi-sweet mango and coconut going in, I’m sure it must have tasted fantastic. 🙂
mayurisjikoni
November 18, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Thank you so much Priya.
Malini
November 18, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Wow. By looking at the picture, I got hungry di. It looks scrumptious. It must be spicy, tangy, and sweet altogether. I love this combination. Very aromatic and refreshing recipe. Thanks for the share. Will give it a try.
mayurisjikoni
November 18, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Thank you so much Malini. It is delicious so go ahead and give it a try.
Jayashree T.Rao
November 18, 2020 at 1:11 pm
This salad is a good way to use the left over lemon rice. Looks delicious and like all the added ingredients here. Good idea.
mayurisjikoni
November 18, 2020 at 3:22 pm
Thank you so much Jayashree and a good suggestion to use lemon rice.
Hem lata srivastava
November 18, 2020 at 4:51 pm
I am a big fan of your salad recipes, this bowl looks full of flavour. I am drooling here. Must try recipe.
mayurisjikoni
November 20, 2020 at 9:03 pm
Thank you so much Hem lata. Try it am sure you’ll enjoy it.
Jolly
November 18, 2020 at 9:27 pm
This looks absolutely tangy and flavorful rice. I loved the addition of raw mango. This one pot meal is so satisfying meal itself. Love to taste it as it is, no other side dish needed. Thanks for this lovely recipe, will try next season.
mayurisjikoni
November 20, 2020 at 9:01 pm
Thanks Jolly, as its a filling salad nothing else is required.
Seema Sriram
November 19, 2020 at 4:33 am
This recipe has captured every bit of the tropical element that I can think of. Mangoes, spicy and coconut cant get any better. Love the simple but soulful images here as well.
mayurisjikoni
November 20, 2020 at 9:00 pm
Thank you so much Seema.
Preethicuisine
November 21, 2020 at 10:14 am
This salad is absolutely interesting and Delish. Salad with leftover rice is elevated to a new level. Would love to try this refreshing salad whenever I find mangoes.
mayurisjikoni
November 21, 2020 at 8:55 pm
Thank you so much Preethi. Hope you find mangoes soon enough to try the recipe.
Vidya Narayan
November 22, 2020 at 4:52 pm
Spicy, Tangy, Coconutty and delicious salad recipe which will be extremely filling too, thanks to the rice element. This is totally my kinda meal. Who says salads are boring and full of leafy greens always .. they should certainly give this a try!
mayurisjikoni
November 22, 2020 at 8:49 pm
Thank you so much Vidya, its so true many associate salads with leafy greens and the usual carrot tomato cucumber combination. But there are so many more exciting variations.
Rafeeda – The Big Sweet Tooth
November 23, 2020 at 2:41 pm
I wish I could ask you to pass that bowl to me, I would have happily gorged on this pretty salad bowl, without even thinking it is a salad in first place! Totally love all the sweet, tangy elements in it, sounds really amazing…
mayurisjikoni
November 23, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Thank you so much Rafeeda. Can you imagine if we could exchange food easily from a distance. I would take your chocolate custard 🙂
Poonam Bachhav
November 24, 2020 at 9:39 am
This tangy, spicy salad with left over rice, coconut, mango and nuts going in is more like a healthy wholesome mini meal to me. I do not need any accompaniment to this salad.
mayurisjikoni
November 24, 2020 at 9:34 pm
Thanks Poonam, that’s true this salad is so filling that you don’t need anything else with it.
Priya Srinivasan
November 25, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Thats one filling meal mayuri ji! Love the addition of mangoes and this is a wonderful way to jazz up leftover rice!! spicy, tangy and zesty, all flavors in one bowl , spectacular!!
mayurisjikoni
November 25, 2020 at 9:04 pm
Thank you so much Priya. Yes its a good way to jazz up leftover rice and enjoy it as a salad.
Sasmita Sahoo
November 26, 2020 at 7:50 am
ahaaa !!! this salad looks absolutely tangy and flavorful with the use of leftover rice. the addition of raw mango must be a perfect choice during summer.
nice one pot meal option !!!
mayurisjikoni
November 26, 2020 at 3:56 pm
Thank you so much Sasmita.
Geetha
November 28, 2020 at 5:05 pm
This is such a great way to transform a left over rice to a totally new dish with simple pantry ingredients. Loved the mango and coconut flavour combination here. Thank you so much for sharing this yummy recipe.
mayurisjikoni
November 28, 2020 at 9:24 pm
Thank you so much Geetha, please do try it. Its really yummy.
Preeti Shridhar
November 29, 2020 at 8:22 am
This is a flavor bomb. A combination of coconut rice and mango rice but in salad form, as some raw ingredients are added here. Will try this in summer when raw mango is available.
mayurisjikoni
November 29, 2020 at 3:41 pm
Thank you so much Preeti. Its a lovely way to enjoy rice in a more healthier way during summer.
Ankita
November 30, 2020 at 3:28 pm
Rice, mango, coconut is an interesting combo. Looks so colorful. I will must prepare it when mongoes are available.
mayurisjikoni
November 30, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Thanks Ankita. Do try it.
Maria
December 1, 2020 at 11:23 am
Love rice based salads. I would gladly skip the main for an extra helping of this very delicious salad! Such fresh and appetizing flavours!
mayurisjikoni
December 1, 2020 at 9:26 pm
Thank you so much Maria, during the hot season, salad recipes like these come to the rescue.