How to Use Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is a key ingredient in much of my dairy-free cooking. If you have a dairy allergy, you don't have to be deprived of the rich, creaminess of dairy foods. Coconut milk makes a great substitute in your sweet AND savory cooking because it has more fat than nut and soy milks. This means you get a richer, silkier texture in your dishes. I understand if you are worried about all your food suddenly tasting like coconut, so I put together a list of tips and recipes here to show you how to use coconut milk, perfect for if you have never used it before or if you want to expand ideas for how to swap it into your traditional recipes.
Coconut milk is a superior replacement for dairy milk in your cooking as it's a nutrient-dense source of fat. By now, we've all learned that we have nothing to fear from fat. Fat is an important fuel for our cells, it helps reduce inflammation, balances blood sugar, keeps our skin glowing and our hair and nails healthy, and nourishes the brain. Regular milk contains more fat than a soy or nut milk, so replacing it with those products leaves our dishes lacking.
There are 3 types of Coconut Milk:
The thinner "drinking milk" that is found with all the other shelf stable non-dairy nut and soy milks usually in the cereal aisle
Canned milk found in the Asian foods aisle, usually used for cooking
Canned "coconut cream" which is the thickest part of the coconut milk without the thinner water
ALL of the recipes below use regular canned coconut milk. Not “lite” and not “creamy’. I have found this standard coconut milk works best in all my cooking.
Also, looks for labels with the least amount of ingredients.
How to use Coconut Milk in your Dairy-Free Cooking
Savory Recipe Tips
One of the most popular uses for coconut milk is in soups and stews, where it adds a lovely creaminess and a subtle coconut flavor. The fattiness of coconut milk works particularly well with spices and acid, which is why it's often included in traditional Thai and Indian dishes. Using coconut milk in other savory dishes can take some finesse though so the flavor doesn't take over the whole dish.
Put your canned coconut milk in the fridge overnight. This ensures the thick cream rises to the top for when you only need a tablespoon or two.
Combine coconut milk with ingredients that will mask the coconut flavor, strong flavors like curry, garlic and onions, mushrooms, beef or chicken, all help to reduce any coconut flavor.
Combine it with other non-dairy milks. Use ½ coconut milk and ½ soy or almond milk in your recipes.
To replace heavy cream use 2 parts thick coconut cream from the can and one part chicken stock. Works great in soups
If you need a yogurt replacement, coconut yogurt is always my first choice. There are some great brands that make plain yogurt so you can use it for dips like Cocoyo and Cocojune, and Harmless Harvest.
Here are some mouthwatering ways to add this nutrient-rich milk into your savory cooking to add creaminess and a satiating flavor:
Savory Recipes that use Coconut Milk
Cauliflower Soup - the picture above is my Golden Cauliflower Soup made with fresh turmeric. The coconut milk pairs perfectly with the ingredients.
Lentil Soup - My recipe for Red Lentil and Coconut Soup uses coconut milk as a main ingredient to add a richness that just doesn't happen with broth alone, and the red lentils fall apart to create a creamy texture. These flavors pair well together.
Alfredo Sauce - Spinach and Mushroom Alfredo with Bacon from The Castaway Kitchen - this recipe uses coconut milk to create a rich, creamy sauce, but then adds cauliflower and bacon to help mask any coconut flavor. Layering flavors like this is a great technique in dairy-free cooking.
Curry - This Yellow Chicken Curry from Pinch of Yum is AMAZING. She makes the yellow curry paste separately so you can make it from scratch and have it around any time you want. Coconut milk is a natural ingredient in curries.
Thai Coconut Soup - This soup recipe from Nom Nom Paleo, known as Tom Kha Gai combines ginger, lemongrass, and lime leaves to create an intense flavor which the coconut milk helps to soothe.
Meat Sauce - Replace the heavy cream in a penne or meat sauce with part coconut cream and part chicken stock. I’ve made the Tomato and Spicy Fennel Pasta Sauce from Joanne Weir, a popular Chef in San Francisco. The recipe calls for ¾ cups of heavy cream. I replaced that with ½ cup thick coconut cream from the can and part chicken stock. It was FABULOUS!!!
Gravy - Here is a recipe you might not expect to turn out so well with coconut milk, Pot Pie Gravy. I came up with this recipe when I was working on a gluten and dairy-free gravy and found that simmering coconut milk with chicken bones gave me the most incredibly rich and creamy texture. Tastes just like the inside of a chicken pot pie.
Sweet Recipe Tips
Coconut milk is perfect for making dairy-free desserts. Its creaminess is just right for puddings and cheesecakes.
coconut milk can be used as a 1 to 1 replacement in most recipes
Combine it with other non-dairy milks when you want to lessen any coconut flavor. Use ½ coconut milk and ½ soy or almond milk in your recipes. I do this with my pumpkin pie recipe. I want the higher fat content, but not the flavor.
Put the can in the refrigerator overnight if you want just the thick cream. It will rise to the top. You can use the thinner milk at the bottom in a smoothie. I always keep a can in the fridge so it’s ready when I need it.
Here are Some of my Favorite Sweet Recipes
My Chocolate Pudding Recipe - this recipe uses a blend of coconut milk and any nut milk you prefer
Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie - Another recipe where I use part coconut milk and part other milks, which helps to blend the flavors so no one stands out too much over the pumpkin spices.
Nom Nom Paleo's Pot de Creme - this is an incredible chocolate dream, with such a wonderful texture just like regular cream.
Nom Nom Paleo's Matcha Pudding - Michelle Tam of Nom Nom Paleo creates yet another amazing dessert. If you like matcha tea, this is a must-try.
Smoothies like this Pineapple Cucumber from Minimalist Baker - coconut milk is perfect in a smoothie, especially when there is some citrus like the pineapple and lime to cut the taste of the fat down.
What to do with Leftover Coconut Milk
So what do you do with the milk leftover in the can if you didn't use it all? First, transfer the milk into a glass jar instead of leaving it in the can. It will stay fresher longer and avoid any chemicals from leaching out of the can into the milk. And then try using one of these recipes:
Replace some of the water in your next batch of steamed rice
Use it in a smoothie
Steam it for your coffee
Make a Turmeric Golden Latte
Make a Pina Colada
Marinate chicken for Grilled Satay Skewers
Let me know if you have any questions about brands to use, or how to use coconut milk in your own recipes.
Enjoy your dairy-free cooking!!
