Update: this recipe has the desired consistency (though I switched to basmati rice, so that's another factor). I had some emergency lard in the refrigerator as a bacon substitute, and that helps a lot. I'm still struggling with capturing a strong coconut taste; I used canned milk, because the fresh coconut I got is a white coconut, so the meat wasn't very flavorful, and I didn't end up using it. The journey continues.