28 Uses for Coconut Milk: The Ultimate Dairy Alternative

Coconut is a dairy-free girl’s best friend. It’s that huge sigh of relief when you realize creamy ice cream can still be a part of your life. I did a little dance the first time I tasted coconut whipped cream. I wanted to shout, “Yay! My tastebuds are no longer deprived!” Coconut makes a delicious alternative that’s rich in key nutrients.

High in magnesium, 1 cup of coconut milk contains 88.8mg and this combined with it’s content of calcium keeps muscles and nerves functioning properly. It is also an excellent source of potassium, where 1 cup has over 630mg compared to 422mg in 1 banana. It is also rich in vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6.

A saturated fat, coconut is a medium chain fatty acid and quickly absorbed as energy in the liver. The body views it as priority energy and is therefor less likely be stored as fat. Coconut’s fat make-up contains lauric acid which the body converts to monolaurin, an antiviral and antibacterial that protects against infections and viruses. It is easily digested, making it a good choice for people working to heal their gut.

This table is a good run-down of all the nutrition in coconut milk.

For the best results and the most nutritional value, I recommend using organic, canned full fat coconut milk or cream. Native Forest and Let’s Do Organic are good brands I like. Coconut milk separates into water and cream in the can. When you open the can, drain off the water and use the cream for all the substitutions below. You can drink the water or add it into smoothies. Watch my video on how to do this here.

1. Coffee & Tea Creamer – add a spoonful of coconut cream right from the can into your cup.

Chai Tea dairy free

2. Creamy Soups – stir 2-3 tablespoons into any cream-based soup, such as a bisque or cream of mushroom soup.

3. Chowders – substitute coconut milk for the heavy cream

4. Substituted for cream and milk in any recipe

5. Whipped Cream – How to Make Dairy Free Whipped Cream 

6. Creamy Dressings – Dairy Free Ranch Dressing by Grass Fed Girl 

7. Creamy Dips like Spinach Artichoke Dip from Paleo Parent’s Real Life Paleo

8. Substitute for Sour Cream in any recipe + ½ teaspoon lemon juice

9. Curry Sauces

10. Smoothies – add ¼ cup to any smoothie – Find my Green Super Smoothie recipe here.

green super smoothie

11. Ice Cream – Sugar Free Coconut Vanilla Ice Cream by In Sonnet’s Kitchen

12. Milkshakes – substitute coconut milk for the ice cream

13. White Chocolate Candy – Better Than Candy Nut Crunchies by Free Coconut Recipes 

14. Candy Bark – Holiday Salted Peppermint Bark by PaleOMG

15. Cream Cheese – 5 Minute Coconut Cream Cheese by The Spunky Coconut 

16. Cake Frosting – layer thick coconut cream between cake layers and on top

17. Pumpkin Pie – Find my recipe here

Pumpkin Pie - dairy free

18. Frozen Pudding Pops

19. Chia Seed Pudding

20. Hot Chocolate

21. Combine with eggs for custard

22. Add to Scrambled Eggs

23. Substitute for Creme Fraiche

24. Alfredo Sauce – Find my recipe here.

 dairy free alfredo

 

25. Added to Mashed Potatoes

26. Substitute for condensed milk in any recipe + 1 tsp honey

27. Caramel Sauce – 3 Step Honey Caramel by The Urban Poser

28. Coconut Yogurt – Simple Coconut Yogurt by Paleo Plans 

 

References:

Harry Belafonte and the secret proteome of coconut milk, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22037231

Coconut Milk Benefits, http://www.med-health.net/Coconut-Milk-Benefits.html

1 Can Full Fat Coconut Milk Recipes, https://www.pinterest.com/recipes/1-can-full-fat-coconut-milk/

Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

After a savory meal, I need a little treat to get my sweet fix. One small piece is all I need but it has to be the right flavor combo to satisfy my insatiable sweet tooth. Chocolate and mint seem to send the right signals to my brain.

I created this chocolate peppermint fudge recipe and it’s exactly what I need after a big meal. Chocolate gives my body the sweet satisfaction and mint sends the signal that the meal is complete. If you’re an Andes Mints lover, that’s exactly what these fudge bites taste like. You’ll absolutely love this recipe! I think it’s the mint that is so satisfying and stops you from eating more than one or two. These are very dark chocolate so if you’re more of a milk chocolate fan, add more coconut milk to tone down the intensity.

Chocolate Peppermint Fudge Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
Makes 24 pieces.

Coconut butter – ½ cup – use this recipe to make your own
8 oz unsweetened chocolate bars
¼ cup + 2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp coconut oil
3 tbsp unsweetened coconut cream
1 tsp pure peppermint extract

►Make coconut butter.
►Line a 9”x9” pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
►Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Then add in the coconut oil, stirring constantly to combine.
►Once melted, add the coconut butter, maple syrup, and coconut cream. Continue stirring until well mixed.
►Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract.
►Pour into prepared pan. Use a piece of parchment paper to flatten and smooth out the fudge into the bottom.
►Freeze for 2 hours, then cut into squares and serve. Best served slightly chilled to prevent melting. Keep refrigerated.

Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

Strawberry Coconut Butter

Strawberry Coconut Butter

It’s strawberry season! Summer came a bit late to the northeast this year so we are just now enjoying the first crop of sweet strawberries. It is impossible to pass by this fruit without snatching up at least two cartons so I end up with more than my stomach can handle. I raided my kitchen last night to what I could possibly create. And since it was 10pm, I wanted to make something quick. I grabbed the food processor, some coconut flakes, strawberries and sea salt. Five minutes later I had this incredible fruit butter! Sometimes the recipes that take the least amount of time have the greatest reward.

Strawberry Coconut Butter

Makes 1 cup

1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut

1/2 cup fresh strawberries

dash of pink Himalayan sea salt

►Pour coconut in a food processor and pulse for five to ten minutes. If you have a Vitamix or other high-powered blender you will only need to process for a minute. The consistency should be creamy.

►Add the strawberries and sea salt then pulse until well combined.

►Voila! Store in a glass jar in the fridge. Use as topping for grain-free pancakes or just enjoy with a spoon right from the jar.