25 Coconut Milk Recipes for Anytime, Anywhere (2024)

Good things come in tin cans. Case in point: sardines, whole tomatoes, beans galore—and coconut milk. We've said it beforeand we'll say it again: Coconut milk is one sexy, dreamy canned good. It's sweet but not cloyingly so, rich but not heavy. It's cheap! It adds depth to the savoryand the sweet, from soup to sweet potatoes to cake. Its creamy, dairy-like qualities make it a vegan's best friend—and it can be your best friend, too.

Here are 25 ways to make friends with coconut milk:

1.Iced Coffee With Avocado (Es Alpukat Kopi Susu)

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Creamy coffee without the, well, cream. Start your morning with a one-two punch of coconut (milk, water), and richness (chocolate syrup and avocado–don’t knock it!).

2. Golden Milk Smoothie

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Haldi doodh (“turmeric milk”) is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy for colds and coughs. This breakfast-ready version adds banana, nut butter, and coconut milk.

3. Toasted Almond and Coconut Quinoa Porridge

A creamy, rich quinoa porridge to make any morning feel special.

4. Mingau de Tapioca (Nigerian Tapioca Pudding)

Introduced by Portuguese colonists and reappropriated by Afro-Brazillian home cooks, coconut enriches this spiced tapioca pudding—a dessert with a shared history and complicated heritage.

5. Sautéed Spring Mushrooms,Chiles + Cilantro in Caramelized Coconut Broth

Meet the deeply satisfying coconut soup that stars meaty mushrooms and rice noodles to boot.

6.

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Come fall soup season, flavors of coconut and dark rum ground this homesick Caribbean author.

7.

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This coconut curry is full of the goods: shallots, scallions, butternut squash, broccoli, and more. Serve it over rice or noodles, and eat in oversized pj's.

8. Coconut Milk Sweet Potato Mash

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Just when you thought the sweet potato couldn't get any creamier.

9. Vegan Kale and White Bean Korma

Ten minutes of active cooking time + seasonal veg riffs = this warming, hearty vegan korma.

10. Collard Greens Braised in Coconut Milk

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Creamed greens 2.0.

11. Cheap Creamy Chicken Curry

Weeknight got you down? Coconut chicken curry to the rescue!

12. Lao Isan Beef Satay With Coconut Milk Marinade

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More people need to know about this (very weeknight and every protein–friendly) Lao-style marinade.

13. Curried Lentils with Coconut Milk

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These coconutty lentils are from Julia Turshen's*Small Victories*. In the words of Alexandra Stafford, "These lentils come together in about 30 minutes, are deeply satisfying, and could be vegan if you leave out the yogurt."

14. Thai Chicken Curry and Coconut Rice

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Coconut milk stars twice here: first, in Thai coconut red curry; and second, in fluffy coconut rice.

15. Instant Pot Coconut Shrimp Soup (Tom Kha)

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This tom kha calls in shrimp, lime juice, and lemongrass for an extra-savory coconut milk soup.

16. Coconuttiest Coconut Cream Pie

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Think: coconut cream pie, taken up 10 notches. There's a coconut shortbread crust. There's a coconut cream filling. There's whipped coconut cream. And on top? Coconut crispies!

17. Coconut Milk Rice Pudding with Citrus and Ginger

This cozy coconut rice pudding is just as happy to be your snack, or your dessert. (Or, you know, your breakfast.)

18. Vegan Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Ice Cream

A dairy-free, vegan ice cream with the texture of velvet sounds, well, impossible—that's where the magic comes in.

19. Coconut Whipped Cream

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Coconut cream, whipped into a cloud-like topping. Use it to make freshly sliced berries or warm slices of cake extra special—or simply eat it from a spoon.

20.

This fondue made with chocolate and cajeta is almost custard-like, thanks to coconut milk.

21. Coconut Kaya

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Coconut milk gets cooked down into a custardy, caramelly jam.

22. Coconut Tres Leches

Aargersi writes, "It's rich and milky and coconutty and good. Ask the neighbors." Or the Food52 team, some of whom have had this for breakfast andlunch.

23. Bebinca: Goan Layered Coconut Cake

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Coconut on coconut on coconut—with coconut.

24. Ten-Minute Bowl of Bananas in Coconut Milk

Like your favorite sweater and a big hug, all at once, in a bowl.

25. My Favorite Pina Colada

This is our co-founder Merrill Stubb's all-time favorite piña colada. She writes, "After a few experiments, I found that a combination of coconut milk and cream of coconut produced the right blend of sweetness and creaminess. A spritz of lime juice and a grating of fresh nutmeg were later additions." Cheers!

This post originally ran July 2015.

What's been your best coconut milk experiment? Tell us in the comments!

25 Coconut Milk Recipes for Anytime, Anywhere (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with a lot of coconut milk? ›

Coconut milk recipes
  1. Sweet potato and coconut soup. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  2. Coconut chai traybake. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  3. Chocolate coconut banoffee pie. ...
  4. Coconut fish curry & rice. ...
  5. Rice cooker coconut rice. ...
  6. Cardamom-spiced vermicelli. ...
  7. Aubergine curry with lemongrass & coconut milk. ...
  8. Coconut rice.

What can I use canned coconut milk for? ›

Substitute coconut milk for dairy milk in your favorite oatmeal, chia pudding, pancake, and waffle recipes. Blend it into smoothie to add a creamy texture or make a coconut milk-based smoothie parfait.

What can I do with coconut milk in a carton? ›

Carton coconut milk recipes
  1. Creamy Coconut Lime Rice (dairy free, gluten free) ...
  2. Coconut Milk Pancakes. ...
  3. Carton Coconut Milk vs Canned? ( ...
  4. 2-Ingredient Coconut Milk Ice Cream (no machine required) ...
  5. 10 Best Coconut Milk Drink Recipes. ...
  6. Vanilla Chia Pudding Recipe - iFoodReal.com. ...
  7. Leftover Canned Coconut Milk? ...
  8. Coconut Milk vs.

Is canned coconut milk the same as drinking coconut milk? ›

Canned Coconut Milk vs Carton

Carton coconut milk is best utilized in things like cereal or blended into smoothies or other drinks. Carton coconut milk is much thinner and more diluted, making it better suited for drinking rather than cooking.

When not to use coconut milk? ›

For example, if consuming products that are low in fat is a priority, coconut milk may not be your best choice due to its high fat content, which contributes most of the calories of coconut milk. In addition, regarding protein content, cow's milk and soy milk have more protein than coconut milk and almond milk.

Can you whip coconut milk? ›

Did you know that you can make luscious whipped cream from a can of coconut milk? Here's how! This trick is simple: Chill a can of coconut milk, then scoop out the coconut fat that separates out and solidifies (leaving the watery liquid behind), and whip it just like whipped cream.

Does canned coconut milk go bad? ›

How long does canned coconut milk last? Unopened and half-opened cans of coconut milk have different expiration dates. An unopened can will have a shelf-life of two to five years, while an opened can will only last you about a week.

Can I put coconut milk in coffee? ›

The taste of coconut milk in coffee is refreshing and slightly sweet. You can buy sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk to use in your coffee. However, most people prefer sweetened coconut milk. You will enjoy subtle hints of coconut flavor with creamy undertones and a refreshing finish.

Can you bake with coconut milk? ›

For those with dietary restrictions that include dairy products, baking with coconut milk makes an ideal alternative—mainly because you don't have to worry about conversions. If your recipe calls for a cup of whole milk, you can substitute it for a cup of coconut milk.

Is coconut milk good for your hair? ›

Coconut milk is a natural fatty acid, which means it gives rich moisturization to your strands. Adding coconut milk to your hair care doesn't just restore your hair and scalp, it can also nourish and protect damage strands from breakage.

What is coconut cream vs coconut milk? ›

Coconut cream is the same thing as coconut milk—coconut meat blended with water—but it contains less water. While coconut milk is thin like cow's milk, coconut cream is thick like whipped cream. You can find this fat-rich cream floating on the top of any canned coconut milk, or you can buy it in a dedicated can.

Can I freeze coconut milk? ›

An open container of coconut milk will last for a week in the fridge, but if you know you probably won't get to it in that amount of time, freeze it immediately. Transfer your unused coconut milk to a freezer-proof container that is just large enough for the quantity you need to store.

Is coconut milk healthier than heavy cream? ›

Though coconut cream contains a similar amount of calories as heavy cream, it provides less than half the fat, which might make it a good option if you're limiting your fat intake.

Why is coconut milk sold in cans? ›

Canned Coconut Milk Is Creamier And Best Used For Cooking

It also comes with additives that stabilize the liquid, like guar gum. When opening a can, it's common to see a layer of solidified coconut cream that has settled on top of the liquid.

Can you substitute coconut milk for anything? ›

Coconut milk is naturally dairy-free, making it an excellent substitute for regular milk in multiple recipes. It only has a mild coconut flavor, so even if you don't like coconut, you might still find you can use coconut milk in recipes without being bothered by the taste.

Can I freeze coconut milk for later use? ›

An open container of coconut milk will last for a week in the fridge, but if you know you probably won't get to it in that amount of time, freeze it immediately. Transfer your unused coconut milk to a freezer-proof container that is just large enough for the quantity you need to store.

Can I freeze leftover coconut milk? ›

Canned coconut milk spoils quickly, so pour whatever you don't use into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, pop them out and store in a freezer bag. Add the cubes to the blender when making fruit smoothies, or to flavor a pot of hot soup or stew. The cubes may also be thawed overnight in the refrigerator.

How long can coconut milk last in the fridge? ›

Coconut milk is a byproduct of a coconut, and its organic nature means that it will eventually turn. Coconut milk lasts for around one week when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and about a month in the freezer.

How long can leftover coconut milk last in the fridge? ›

We've found that leftover coconut milk will last up to a week in the fridge with no depreciation in quality, but we wondered if we could freeze it to make it last even longer.

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