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25 Coconut Milk Recipes for Anytime, Anywhere

Get cozy with coconut.

November 27, 2019

Good things come in tin cans. Case in point: sardines, whole tomatoes, beans galore—and coconut milk. We've said it before and 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 savory and 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)

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

Golden Milk Smoothie

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

Porridge

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

4. Mingau de Tapioca (Nigerian Tapioca Pudding)

https://food52.com/recipes/76125-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 

Noodles

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

6. Butternut Squash & Shrimp Bisque

https://food52.com/recipes/82141-shrimp-bisque-with-butternut-squash-recipe

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

7. Simple Weeknight Vegetarian Green Curry & Noodles

Simple Weeknight Vegetarian Green Curry & NoodlesSimple Weeknight Vegetarian Green Curry & Noodles

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

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

9. Vegan Kale and White Bean Korma 

Korma

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

10. Collard Greens Braised in Coconut Milk

Collard Greens Braised in Coconut Milk

Creamed greens 2.0.

11. Cheap Creamy Chicken Curry 

Curry

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

12. Lao Isan Beef Satay With Coconut Milk Marinade

Lao Isan Beef Satay With Coconut Milk Marinade

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

13. Curried Lentils with Coconut Milk

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

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)

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

16. Coconuttiest Coconut Cream Pie

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 

Pudding

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 

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

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. Coconut Cajeta & Chocolate Fondue 

Fondue

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

21. Coconut Kaya

Coconut Kaya

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

22. Coconut Tres Leches 

Tres leches cake

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 and lunch.

23. Bebinca: Goan Layered Coconut Cake

 Bebinca: Goan Layered Coconut Cake

Coconut on coconut on coconut—with coconut.

24. Ten-Minute Bowl of Bananas in Coconut Milk 

Bananas

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

25. My Favorite Pina Colada 

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!

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  • Chefgan
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Writing and cooking in Brooklyn.

23 Comments

Chefgan October 29, 2020
Cooking fried rice round it up with coconut oil with a few flip makes the fried rice more healthy and a hint of frangrance of coconut.
 
AntoniaJames August 30, 2017
Mallika Basu's basic tomato curry sauce https://food52.com/recipes/35952-tomato-curry-sauce + coconut milk + whatever protein /grains / vegetables you have on hand = dinner. I make triple batches of the sauce and freeze in one and two cup portions for this purpose. Also, that sauce + frozen chopped spinach + chickpeas = chana saag 15-minute dinner (we eat it with brown rice), another great reason to keep this sauce on hand. ;o)
 
Brittany P. August 6, 2016
I do edamame in coconut milk & sambal with a touch of soy sauce or salt. Delish.
 
Rachel H. July 26, 2016
Minatamis na Bao. super yum
 
Scallen July 26, 2016
I do the recipe from P.Deen French Coconut Pie and sub the milk with Coconut milk to give it more coconutty flavor. Easy as pie! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/french-coconut-pie-recipe.html
 
Terri July 9, 2016
If you're interested in the environmental impact of coconut farming, here's some good information: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/is-your-obsession-with-coconuts-harming-the-environment/
I am concerned about the transportation costs and environmental effects of tropical fruits when they become so popular we find them in everything. I suggest using it consciously; and buy organic fair trade when possible!
 
Jori M. July 8, 2016
I cook jasmine rice in coconut milk. Game changer!
 
Jessica M. August 19, 2015
I love making tapioca pudding with coconut milk and a pinch of cinnamon!
 
Karen T. July 20, 2015
I use coconut milk to make my veggie pot pie instead of regular milk.
 
Annada R. July 19, 2015
I use coconut milk as an enriching agent in this asian inspired tomato soup. Heat 3 tsp clarified butter or ghee in pan. Add 1/2 tsp cumin seeds and once they stop popping, add 3 tbsp tomato paste and 1 cup of water. Salt and pepper this tomato mix as per your taste. Once this mix boils, add 1/2 cup unsweetened, canned coconut milk and let it boil again. Top it off with some chopped cilantro. I love to drink this rich soup on a cold, wintry day. day.
 
Caroline L. July 20, 2015
this sounds so delicious! can't wait to try.
 
Janet M. July 19, 2015
For roti de porc au lait, I substitute coconut milk for cow's mild for simmering they pork. Since coconut milk doesn't curdle, I can add citrus flavorings. (Lemongrass works really well with the pork and coconut milk.) I've also adapted the recipe to use with a whole fryer chicken. You can really pack in the citrus with chicken.
 
Peet July 17, 2015
Coconut pancakes instead of regular milk coconut milk ....very tasty
 
Robert July 16, 2015
Canned sugar-free coconut milk (forget the pretend coconut milk in cartons) opens up a whole world for your dairy-intolerant friends and family. Try it in coffee or tea, you will be shocked how good it is. Even traditional dessert recipes can work well, although you will need to experiment to see which of the two types of canned coconut milk — light or the heavier version — works better for you. You'll want to test out several brands as the quality and flavor varies. Trader Joes & Thai Kitchens are good picks.
 
Carolina J. July 16, 2015
Sorry ... Sugar
 
theresa C. July 19, 2015
Not any more sugar than what's in cow's milk.
 
Carolina J. July 16, 2015
Limonada de coco. Milk coconut with lemon juice, sumar and a lot of ice. Its from Colombia
 
דליה ט. July 16, 2015
Looks great!
 
MarieGlobetrotter July 16, 2015
Curried rice with coconut milk, unsweetened coconut flakes, apples, banana, and black currants. Creamy and delicious. Recipe my mother used to make when I was a kid (and you can also add chicken to it). Here: https://food52.com/recipes/20756-rice-with-curry-and-fruits
 
James July 15, 2015
Not sure if posting links from other sites is appropriate here, but here is one of my favorite. Kerala fish curry with coconut milk - http://mariasmenu.com/spicy/kerala-fish-curry-with-coconut-milk
 
Caroline L. July 15, 2015
thanks for the recommendation!
 
AntoniaJames July 15, 2015
Interesting recipe! Never heard of kudampuli. Will have to run that down. Thank you for posting the link, James. ;o)
 
Maria J. July 29, 2015
Thanks for the shout out James :)

Antonia - Kudampuli is a souring agent (like tamarind) and is widely used in fish and seafood preparations in Kerala, South India. Dried kudampuli is soaked in water for sometime and then added to the curry. The combination of kudampuli and coconut milk works really well.