Coconut milk is a great alternative to dairy milk. Though it’s not actual milk or cream, yet it is rich and tasty.
People around the world use coconut milk to make delicious cuisines and smoothies.
Today, coconut milk is readily available in any local store and supermarket. And also, it can be conveniently made at home.
Whether you want to add a hint of coconut flavor to your coffee, bake a cake, or cook some rich Indian or Thai curries, coconut milk is your go-to.
With all that being said, if you are ready to know all about coconut milk, what does coconut milk taste like, or some tasty coconut milk recipes, you might want to continue reading.
What is Coconut Milk?
People are often confused between coconut milk and coconut water. In a nutshell, coconut water is the water found inside a young coconut.
However, coconut milk is made by shredding coconut meat with about 50% of water.
There are two types of coconut milk available – thin and thick. Thick coconut milk is produced by boiling freshly grated coconut meat and straining it through cheesecloth.
Then, you can simmer the remaining grated coconut in water and strain it in the cheesecloth again to produce thin coconut milk.
While thin milk is popularly used in drinks and soups, you can use thick coconut milk in desserts or cuisines.
What Does Coconut Milk Taste Like? Does Coconut Milk Taste Good?
Coconut milk is a rich, creamy drink that’s packed with the sweet flavor of coconut.
Unlike young coconuts which contain water and little else besides protein are made by grinding meat from mature nuts until it becomes thick like yogurt or cream then squeezing out any remaining pulp to produce this delicious “milk” perfect for cooking!
But with thin coconut milk, you can expect the milk to have a slight coconut flavor, rather than a strong oomph.
Generally, both coconut milk and creams have the aroma and nuttiness of the tropical fruit.
Coconut milk, though high in calorie content, is a great source of several minerals and vitamins. To give you a better idea, one cup of coconut milk, i.e., 240 grams, contain the following nutritional content:
- Protein – 5 grams
- Fat – 57 grams
- Finer – 5 grams
- Calories – 552
- Carbs – 13 grams
Along with these, it also contains certain amounts of vitamin C, selenium, iron, folate, copper, magnesium, manganese, and potassium.
While unsweetened coconut milk has lesser calorie content as compared to skimmed milk, yet dairy milk has higher contents of protein.
How to Use Coconut Milk in Recipes
There are several ways to make use of coconut milk. If you are a vegan, or want to cut down on dairy, or simply enjoy the taste of coconut milk, you can use this as an alternative for dairy milk in tea, coffee or other beverages.
Coconut milk is boiled and used just like any other dairy milk. However, depending on what you’re using for, the process of using the milk may vary.
There are several coconut milk recipes you can try at home like coconut rice, chicken thighs in coconut curry with cilantro, coconut pancakes, and lots more.
Using homemade coconut milk is the best option. However, nowadays, organic and nutritious coconut milk can be found online or in several stores.
But before buying it, make sure you read the label. Buy the ones which have only coconut and water.
Also, make sure to buy coconut milk in BPA-free cans and cartoons.
Conclusion
Coconut milk is, no doubt, a tasty alternative for other milk. Adding this to your diet moderately boosts heart health as well as provides several other health benefits.
Due to the presence of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut milk, it aids in weight loss. Also, coconut milk is rich in lauric acid, which boosts the immune system.
Along with coconut milk, the tropical fruit has several healthy by-products like virgin coconut oil, coconut aminos, coconut skimmed milk, coconut cream, etc.
So, whether you are health conscious, or want tasty coconutty meals, you can try using this versatile milk today.
What Does Coconut Milk Taste Like? Does Coconut Milk Taste Good?
Ingredients
- Coconut milk
- Ingredients from your favorite recipes
Instructions
- Depending on the recipes you choose, the taste can vastly differ.
- For authentic results, it is important to choose a recipe that will highlight the original flavor.
- Have fun experimenting with different recipes and taste tests!
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