some people stock their pantries with shiny sacks of lentils or cans of tuna to the ceiling. i am never without a decent supply of coconut milk. in the world of non perishables, a can of coconut milk is as genius as they come. my kitchen changed the first time i swirled a few tablespoons of homemade yellow curry paste in a murmuring pot of coconut milk and sweet potatoes. the first word that comes to mind is exotic, and not because it makes me think of a palm tree in phuket. coconut milk has an uncanny ability of bringing other flavors out, like a snake charmer for spices with an intriguing profile of its own. since the day of yellow curry paste, i've added coconut milk to several recipes and unlikely dishes. it's become such a habit that whenever i taste something i soon start to daydream of what it might be like with a smooth stream of coconut milk slipped in...
10 things to do with canned coconut milk
1. use it to cook oatmeal. substitute half of the water you use to make oatmeal with coconut milk. this is delicious served with fresh mango & macademia nuts. it is also a decadent vegan option.
2. if a pureed soup recipe calls for cream, consider coconut milk. most butternut squash, root vegetable, carrot, or sweet potato soups come alive with the addition of coconut milk
3. dissolve homemade or store-bought curry paste in warm coconut milk to create a simple sauce or broth for poultry, fish, or shellfish
4. in a coffee rut? coffee + coconut milk
5. marinate dungeness crab in a combination of coconut milk, lime juice, and basil. let it sit for ten minutes before straining out the liquid and serving the crab over fresh greens
6. make improv vegetable curry
7. puree coconut milk, pineapples, and a little bit of agave syrup and pour into popsicle molds for pina colada popsicles
8. make coconut rice. use coconut milk (or a combination with stock or water) to cook jasmine rice. it will take roughly the same amount of time to cook with as it does with water. i love the addition of crystallized ginger and dehydrated pineapple
9. add a glug of it to any instant noodle soup, swirl with your spoon and watch as it transforms
10. make coconut french toast. the recipe will follow tomorrow...
notes
* seek out canned coconut milk from thailand. it is fresher tasting than most others. i like the thai kitchen brand and it is available at most well-stocked supermarkets. i am excited to try an insulated carton of "coconut cream" (aka extra dreamy coconut milk) from my friend, susan s.
* make sure to vigorously shake a can of coconut milk before opening it. i think of this as the coconut milk dance, as if the moment before imbibing coconut milk were not exciting enough as it is. it will aid in mixing the milk with the layer of cream that rises to the top. if it is not thoroughly combined, stir with a spoon upon opening.