How To Make Coconut Milk at Home

How To Make Coconut Milk at Home

published Apr 2, 2014
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(Image credit: Gina Eykemans )

I use coconut milk often and liberally in my kitchen. Its exotic flavor packs quite a punch and enhances a myriad of dishes — from soups and stews to curries and baked goods. I also love using it in smoothies or simply sipping it on its own with a dash of cinnamon.

Up until recently, I was tethered to buying it in a can. But did you know you can easily make your own coconut milk at home with only two ingredients? It’s so easy! Let me show you how.

While I really love to use coconut milk in my cooking, I don’t always love the additives I find when reading the back of the can labels. I’ve been known to compare and contrast all the various cans while at the market in order to find the rare version that does not contain any gums or other things I can’t pronounce. Straight coconut milk is surprisingly difficult to find, so I usually just opt for the can with the least amount of added extras.

This was why it was a real game changer when I was tipped off to the fact that I could easily make my own coconut milk at home. Now I know exactly what’s going into my coconut milk. There’s no comparing of labels and no sneaky extras.

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(Image credit: Gina Eykemans )

There are so many ways that I love to use coconut milk in my kitchen! Most often, I use it as a substitute for regular milk. You might find me dunking the corner of a brownie into a glass of this stuff, or simply drinking it plain. However, its uses are vast and variable. You can go traditional and use it in curries or in other Asian fare, or even just to flavor a pot of rice. Add it to a smoothie to make it rich and thick or use it in place of milk when baking. The possibilities are endless.

(Image credit: Gina Eykemans )

Need more coconut inspiration? Here are some ways you might use your finished product and change up your cooking game!

More Ideas for Using Coconut Milk:

Now that we’re feeling inspired, let’s get to making our coconut milk!

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Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make coconut milk.
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How To Make Your Own Coconut Milk

Yield Makes 4 cups

Prep time 10 minutes

  • alcohol-free
  • egg-free
  • paleo
  • kidney-friendly
  • peanut-free
  • pork-free
  • pescatarian
  • gluten-free
  • tree-nut-free
  • high-fiber
  • low-sodium
  • red-meat-free
  • dairy-free
  • low-carb
  • fish-free
  • vegetarian
  • shellfish-free
  • vegan
  • sugar-conscious
  • no-oil-added
  • soy-free
  • wheat-free
Per serving, based on 6 servings. (% daily value)
  • Calories 249
  • Fat 24.4 g (37.5%)
  • Saturated 21.6 g (108.1%)
  • Carbs 8.9 g (3.0%)
  • Fiber 6.2 g (24.6%)
  • Sugars 2.8 g
  • Protein 2.6 g (5.2%)
  • Sodium 20.3 mg (0.8%)

Ingredients

  • 1 (8-ounce) package

    unsweetened shredded coconut

  • 4 cups

    hot (near boiling) water

Equipment

  • Measuring cup

  • Blender

  • Nut milk bag (see Recipe Note)

  • Medium bowl

  • Mason jars (for storage)

Instructions

  1. Combine the coconut and hot water in a blender. Place the coconut in a blender. It may seem like a lot of coconut, but it is just enough to get the job done. Pour the water over the coconut.

  2. Allow the mixture to rest. Let the coconut and hot water sit in the blender for a few minutes to give the coconut time to soften before continuing onto the next step.

  3. Blend the mixture. Blend on high until the coconut is puréed and the mixture looks milky, 1 to 2 minutes. You will still have flecks of coconut in the mixture.

  4. Pour the mixture into a nut milk bag. Open the nut bag and arrange it inside a medium bowl. Pour the coconut mixture from the blender into the nut milk bag.

  5. Squeeze out the coconut milk. Cinch the nut milk bag shut. Take the bag in both hands and squeeze it out over the bowl. The finished milk should easily pass through the bag. Continue to squeeze and wring out your bag until you've extracted as much of the milk as possible. You can discard or compost the leftover coconut pulp in the nut bag; if you have a dehydrator, the pulp can be dried and used as coconut flour.

  6. Bottle the coconut milk. Transfer the coconut milk into a storage vessel of your choice, like large mason jars, swing top jars, or other air-tight container. This milk can be used right away.

Recipe Notes

Nut milk bags: You can find nut milk bags at many natural food stores or on Amazon .

Storing and using homemade coconut milk: Store for up to 4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container, or freeze for up to 3 months. Your coconut milk will separate after being refrigerated (or when thawed after being frozen) — this is normal! Just give it a good shake and it should be ready to use. Use homemade coconut milk as you would any other coconut milk.

Gina Eykemans

Contributor

Gina is the mind behind So...Let's Hang Out . When she isn't cooking, taking pictures, or chasing after her puppy dog, she is usually doodling polar bears on napkins.



Source : food

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