Ever want to just get away? Say hello to paradise, with this token from the Islands. A glass of coconut milk is your ticket to a refreshing start to your day. With its high versatility as a dairy-alternative, coconut milk has been paving the way for new and old recipes alike. With just 2 easy ingredients and 10 minutes of your time, you’ll be cutting out calories and sugars you never knew you were drinking!
How to Make Homemade Coconut Milk
A common misconception about coconut milk is that the liquid you find inside is actually milk when in reality it’s just coconut water. Lucky for us, coconut milk is pretty easy to make.
To start, you’ll need a grater, cheesecloth, high-powered blender, a bowl/container, and a handy dandy spoon. You can make fresh coconut milk at home by combining the scooped out coconut and shredding it prior to throwing it in a blender with warm water. Puree the mixture, then strain it through a cheesecloth over the container of your choice.
Coconut milk can be thick or thin so depending on the consistency you’re looking for, you might need to repeat the steps more than once.
- For thicker milk, straining it once should be enough.
- For thinner milk, after straining it the first time, mix the remnants of the shredded coconut with warm water and strain through the cheesecloth once more or until you reach the consistency you’re looking for.
What Are the Benefits of Coconut Milk?
Coconut milk is a great milk alternative for those with allergies, sensitivities or just like coconuts. Some its amazing attributes are:
- Weight loss - Coconut milk contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which has been linked to weight loss through heat production, helping you to burn fat quicker.
- Heart Health - Coconuts can increase levels of “good cholesterol” or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL).
- Rich in Vitamins and Minerals - Coconut milk contains high levels of saturated fat, making it a very calorie-rich food filled with protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and vitamin C.
How To Preserve My Homemade Coconut Milk
Depending on what you need your milk for there are two main ways to store it, fresh and frozen.
- Fresh: You can store it for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. If you happen to notice your coconut milk starting to separate after being refrigerated, don’t worry! This is totally normal. Just stir it up and proceed with your coconut milk goodness.
- Frozen: Coconut milk can be frozen in an airtight container and last about 3 months, but like most liquids make sure to leave a gap in between the milk and the container’s lid as it tends to expand. A gap size between a 1/2 inch to an inch should be enough room.
How To Introduce Coconut Milk Into Your Life
Coconut milk is one of those amazing things in life that you can discreetly substitute in your everyday foods. For starters, you can try using it in these dishes:
- Cereal
- Smoothies
- Frozen Yogurt
- Curry
- Oatmeal
- Soups
Want to try some other alternative dairy recipes to make at home?
-
Easy Vegan Coconut Chia Pudding
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Avocado Coconut Dairy-Free Ice Cream
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Refreshing Plant-Based Strawberries and Cream
-
Dairy-Free Sour Cream
-
Delicious Organic Vegan Eggnog for Digestive Health Recipe
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Let us know what you think of this recipe and feel free to share your variations and the different flavors you come up with! You can also share your favorite vegan recipes on our ➡️Share Your Recipe⬅️ page with the whole community!
