🇹🇿 Tanzanian / Swahili · Desserts
🍚 Tanzanian Coconut Rice Pudding
Uji wa Nazi
Tanzanian Uji wa Nazi — short-grain rice simmered slowly in thick coconut milk with cardamom, rose water, and sugar until completely creamy and fragrant. The Swahili coast's most comforting dessert — served warm or chilled, garnished with toasted coconut and fresh mango.
Coconut rice pudding is the coastal Tanzanian dessert that feels like a hug — slow-cooked, gently sweet, perfumed with cardamom and rose water, and topped with the contrast of fresh tropical fruit. It can be breakfast or dessert — on the Swahili coast, the distinction barely matters.
Ingredients
Equipment: Heavy saucepan
- 1.5 cups short-grain or sushi rice
- 500ml thick coconut milk
- 2 cups water
- 4 tbsp sugar
- ¾ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp rose water
- Pinch of salt
Garnish: 2 tbsp toasted desiccated coconut, fresh mango slices, a pinch of ground cinnamon
Method
- Combine rice, coconut milk, water, sugar, cardamom, and salt in a heavy saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle boil, stirring.
- Reduce to lowest heat. Stir every 2—3 minutes.
- Cook 28—32 minutes until rice is completely dissolved and the pudding is thick and creamy.
- Remove from heat. Stir in rose water.
- Serve warm or chill 2 hours.
- Garnish with toasted coconut, fresh mango, and a pinch of cinnamon.
Chef Tips
- Stir regularly — coconut rice pudding sticks to the base.
- Short-grain rice dissolves more completely than basmati — producing a creamier result.
- Rose water goes in off the heat — it is highly volatile and loses its fragrance if cooked.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not stirring — sticks and burns.
- Adding rose water during cooking.
- Under-cooking — the rice should be completely soft.
The Science
Short-grain rice has a higher amylopectin ratio than long-grain — the amylopectin leaches readily into the coconut milk during cooking, producing the characteristically thick, creamy pudding consistency. The coconut fat also helps create a smooth mouthfeel by coating the gelatinised starch granules.
Nutrition (per serving)
Health Benefits
- Coconut milk provides MCTs.
- Cardamom aids digestion.
- Naturally dairy-free.
Cultural Note
Coconut rice pudding is the dessert of the Swahili coast's gentlest moments — the warm bowl after a long meal, the chilled portion on a hot afternoon, the sweet that requires nothing more than time and the island's own coconut.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Refrigerate 3 days. Add a splash of coconut milk when reheating.
Reheating: Gently on stovetop with a splash of coconut milk.
Serve with: Fresh Mango, Toasted Coconut, As a standalone dessert or breakfast