Coconut milk: like or dislike?
Welcome to Like or Dislike, where you get to share how you really feel about ingredients from the pantry, ingredients I'm thinking about adding to my pantry, other seasonal foods, and favorite cooking gear. The things you like are sure to find their way to the recipes here on The Perfect Pantry, so do tell.
Coconut milk is one half of the magic "you can always make a quick curry for dinner" formula that sees me through many a last-minute meal. A can of coconut milk and a large plop of Thai curry paste (both red and green are always in my refrigerator), plus any leftover meats or vegetables, and maybe a splash of fish sauce or soy sauce or lime juice, will always satisfy. For those who are dairy-free, coconut milk is a life saver, as it can be used in baking, soups and stews, or any type of cream sauce. Do you keep coconut milk in your pantry?
Coconut milk: like or dislike?
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There are only 2 things I don't like and coconut is one of them. Not just milk, anything with coconut, even sun lotion! When making curries I adapt recipes and often use creme fraiche instead.
LIKE! great for curries, great for anything where milk can be used; i use it in my smoothies from time to time as well, so this is something i regularly keep on hand ;0)
I love it in curries and soups and now that I know that it is how Woodman's makes gluten and diary-free yummy fried food, I'll keep that in mind for the rare times that we fry seafood.
Coconut milk, LOVE! I am not a fan of shredded coconut in desserts so much, but I love the creaminess coconut milk gives to curries and soups. I always have it in my pantry.
Great choice for an ingredient to feature. I bet there are strong opinions on this one.
Never use it and avoid it. Don't understand the unadulterated adulation. What about the cholesterol?
I love coconut milk as it is used in SE Asia and India (and I'd probably love in Caribbean foods too). Not a fan of using coconut oil everywhere, though.
I like to buy it at Asian markets, but when I compare labels I see a wide range of values. I've found a few I prefer, which are easiest to work with and aren't so high in fat, even though they seem to be 100% coconut.
The coconut milk in grocery dairy cases or aseptics, meant for drinking, is a different product. I stick to the real stuff.
There is no cholesterol in coconut milk - that's only in animal foods. What it does have is saturated fat (hard at room temperature, liquifies in warmth). ....in moderation, I don't have concerns.
I like it in Southeast Asian cooking, but I do not use it for anything else. I don't like coconut very much and do not understand the current craze for all things coconut.
Love coconut milk! It's so easy to make curry with either Thai chili paste or Indian chili paste. I used it last week for a shrimp curry with broccoli and a couple of weeks before with cauliflower, chickpeas and sweet potato for a veggie curry.
Just reading these, I am hungry for coconut rice. I wish recipes would be more clear as to type of product to be used--from the can or from the tetra pack--sometimes I cannot be sure.