Coconut milk
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Gift a magazine subscription with 12 issues for £34.99Discover how coconut milk is made from fresh coconut, how it compares to coconut water or cream, and our top tips for incorporating it into your cooking
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What is coconut milk?
Coconut milk is not the slightly opaque liquid that flows from a freshly opened coconut – that is coconut water. Coconut milk is made by grating fresh coconut flesh and then working that with water, traditionally by hand. With little or no water added, rich coconut cream is obtained, while more water and greater working results in a thinner milk. Even so, like unhomogenised dairy milk, if left to stand, a cream rises and is often used as a frying medium – the classic way to start Thai sauces for instance. Commercially marketed coconut milks often have emulsifiers added, so no separation occurs.
Both coconut cream and milk are very high in saturated fat compared to cow's milk. Most of the fat is in the form of medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCFAs), in particular lauric acid, which have some health benefits, and may not be as bad for heart health as previously thought. However, research is ongoing in this area.
Find out about the health benefits of coconut milk.
How to cook with coconut milk
Coconut milk can be used in place of dairy milk or cream, depending on how thick it is. It can be used in tea or coffee or as a cream substitute to make or dress all sorts of puddings and desserts, especially those including tropical fruits. In south Asia it is traditionally used to make pancakes. On Pitcairn Island in the Pacific, you can enjoy a dish called Humpus Bumpus comprising of banana fritters cooked in coconut milk. The milk is also used to dress green beans and salads.
Check out our coconut milk recipes.
Availability of coconut milk
Anyone with a fresh coconut can make it. Desiccated coconut can also be used after soaking and rehydrating. Otherwise, coconut milk and cream products are widely available, sometimes frozen.
How to buy coconut milk
Always best used as fresh as possible and storage advice in commercial products should be adhered to strictly. Check for added ingredients in packaged products and choose accordingly.
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