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It’s a lot of fun to make coconut milk from scratch at home. Even if you’re not concerned about the health benefits, the flavor of pure homemade coconut milk is unrivaled, and learning how to make it at home is well worth the time and effort.
Who Can Drink Homemade Coconut Milk?
This raw, vegan, paleo-friendly, whole30, dairy-free, and nut-free coconut milk is created from scratch. When you make your own coconut milk, you have more control over the ingredients you use.
Why Should I Make Homemade Coconut Milk?
With so many different types of milk on the market today, both dairy and dairy-free, it can be difficult to know which one to choose.
Coconuts are low in sodium and cholesterol, naturally gluten-free, and abundant in fiber and beneficial fats from a nutritional standpoint.
Coconuts Are High In Fat
Coconuts, without a doubt, have a lot of fat in them. They are, however, saturated fats derived from plants, which break down quickly and do not accumulate fat.
These healthy fats also aid in the proper functioning of your body’s endocrine system and thyroid function. This boosts your metabolism and increases the likelihood of insulin being released to keep your blood sugar in balance.
Homemade vs. Canned Or Boxed Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is the same as almond milk, as I mentioned in my article on how to create Homemade Almond Milk and why I prefer it to store-bought almond milk.
Cut Out The Non-essential Ingredients
Stabilizers, sweeteners, and thickening additives are all present in canned coconut milk. You’ll be able to eliminate such needless ingredient after you’ve learnt how to make coconut milk, and you’ll be one step closer to eating a whole food diet, which is the ultimate goal.
Polysorbate 80
Polysorbate 80, a stabilizer for separating liquids, reduces the healthy microorganisms in your stomach. Polysorbate 80 is also consumed by pathogenic gut bacteria, resulting in increased gut inflammation and a risk of weight gain.
Carboxymethylcellulose
On ingredient labels, carboxymethylcellulose is sometimes referred to as cellulose gum or CMC. It’s another popular emulsifier that harms your intestines.
It’s also used as a thickening agent on occasion. Unlike polysorbate 80, which produces gut inflammation over time by disrupting gene expression in gut microbes, carboxymethylcellulose triggers gut inflammation right away. Bacteria in the gut that are exposed to carboxymethylcellulose produce an excessive amount of flagellin, a gut-irritating protein.
Buying A Whole Coconut
The outermost coating of most coconuts purchased in stores has been removed. This is the fibrous husk, which is removed to reveal a hard-shelled ‘nut’ that may be held in your hand.
It’s essential to choose the right coconut to ensure that the meat inside is ripe but not too old and dried up. Hold a ripe coconut up to your ear and gently shake it; if the liquid within is heard, you’ve got a winner.
Servings:
1/2 a Cup
Ready In:
20 Minutes
Calories:
276 per serving
Good For:
Drink, Snack
Nutrition
- Calories: 276 Calories
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 29g
- Carbs: 7g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- 316 milligrams of potassium
- 18 milligrams of sodium
- 44 milligrams of magnesium
- 2 milligrams of iron
Amounts per serving:
1 serving is half a cup of milk
- Protein 3g 6.5%
- Carbohydrates 7g 15%
- of Which Sugar is 4g 9%
- Fiber 3g 6,5%
- Fat 29g 63%
Coconut Milk Uses
Once you’ve made this delicious coconut milk, you can check out my post on How to Cook With Coconut Milk. When this versatile milk is blended with a variety of unexpected ingredients, it produces a wide range of flavors. There’s something for everyone, from creamy pasta recipes to cheesy sauces.
What Do You Do With The Coconut Water?
Refrigerate the drained coconut water and drink it once it has chilled. Coconut water has numerous advantages and is high in electrolytes. Surprisingly, it is very similar to human plasma that it may be given intravenously in an emergency (1)
Coconut Milk From Scratch. The Recipe
Equipment
- hammer
- sharp knife
- kitchen towel
- medium bowl
- Large cup
- Muslin cloth or Nut bag.
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1 Large Coconut
- 3 Cups Water. Hot water is preferred over cold to produce richer coconut milk that had a higher coconut oil content.
Instructions
- Prepare The CoconutRemove as much hair off of the coconut as possible
- Locate The EyesFind the 3 soft 'eyes' of the coconut.
- Drill HolesPierce the soft eyes of the coconut with a butter knife. You will need to pierce two holes (there are 3 in total) for proper drainage.
- Remove LiquidTurn the coconut upside down and drain the coconut water into a cup.
- Give it a Bash.cover the coconut in a kitchen towel and gently knock it against a hard surface. In the knocking action, we will be loosening the coconut flesh from its hard shell layer. This makes our job a little easier in the next step.
- Crack It OpenAfter knocking a few times, start using a bit more force and crack the shell open. Break the coconut up into a few pieces.
- Separate Flesh From ShellThe hardest and most injury-prone step is prying the coconut meat away from its shell, so be careful! With a butter knife, pry the coconut meat from its shell.
- Blend With WaterPlace the coconut flesh in a blender and add one cup of hot water at a time, blending in between.
- Once the coconut and water mixture forms a smooth and creamy slurry, the mixture is ready to sieve (about 3 or 4 cups of water).
- Sieve Through BagPour the coconut mixture through a muslin bag or nut milk bag into a bowl. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, and transfer the coconut milk to the refrigerator.
- Store in Fridge or FreezerHomemade coconut milk will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. freeze the milk in ice trays and use coconut milk blocks as needed. Store this way for up to 2 months!
How Do I Store Homemade Coconut Milk?
In the fridge, homemade coconut milk can last up to three days. Fresh coconut milk does not have the same shelf life as canned or packaged coconut milk because it does not contain preservatives. Alternatively, freeze the coconut milk in ice trays and use as needed. This is how you can keep it for up to 2 months!
How To Use The Leftover Coconut Pulp
Instead of discarding the “pulp” in the muslin bag, combine the coconut particles with sugar and various spices to make a fantastic Coconut Chai Body Scrub, which is one of my 5 Best Homemade Body Scrub Recipes.
