A Heavenly and Creamy Fare Using Fresh Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is very common if you are from the Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines - or from Brazil, Caribbean, Polynesia, and Pacific islands. The liquid is extracted from the grated matured meat of a coconut. The color and rich taste of the milk can be ascribed to its high oil content. Fresh coconut milk is a very popular ingredient to the exotic cuisines in the tropics and the islands.

The coconut milk extracted fresh from matured fruits has a consistency and mild sweet taste comparable to cow's milk. If it has been extracted properly, it is not supposed to have any coconut odor. For those who like the fresh taste of coconut milk, it makes a delicious creamer or as a milk substitute in tea, coffee. It can also be used in baking by vegetarians, vegans and by people with lactose intolerance. As a yoghurt substitute, it can be mixed with fruits and other dishes.

Curry is a foremost cooking ingredient to many cuisines such Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, and Sri Lankan. Fresh coconut milk makes the best base for the curry sauce. This is prepared by cooking the coconut milk first at high heat to break down the milk that will cause the oil to separate. The curry paste, which can be a blend of several spices, is then added including the other seasonings and ingredients.

Serabi cakes, a staple in Indonesia is simply rice flour cooked in coconut milk. In Brazil, it is a common ingredient in Northeastern cuisine. Seafood like lobsters, shrimps and fish, stews and desserts can be made more mouth-watering with coconut milk.

While you can use canned coconut milk, nothing compares to freshly squeezed coconut milk. Homemade versions are richer in flavor and contain more vitamin C, Vitamin B-complex, and Vitamin E. With the growing popularity of South East Asian cuisines, more and more people are coming to love the taste of freshly made coconut milk.

Making coconut milk is easy when it is done properly. In the Philippines, homemade coconut milk is done by grating the coconut kernel using an improvised grater made especially for this purpose. Those who want convenience can buy coconuts in the market where grating is provided as a free service. The grated coconut can also be pressed to extract the rich milk. Otherwise, the milk from the grated coconut is done by adding water and manually pressing it at home. The amount of water determines the thinness or thickness of the coconut milk.

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