“He who plants a coconut tree plants food and drink, vessels and clothing, a home for himself and a heritage for his children.” – A South Seas saying
Coconut is a dream food for allergy sufferers! Especially if dairy/casein/lactose or gluten are the culprits. Although anyone could be allergic to any food, including coconut, allergic reactions to coconut occur significantly less often than to other food items such as wheat, milk, soy, or peanut. Its versatility makes it practical for almost any kitchen creation. From ice cream to curries to cupcakes, there’s a great diversity of recipes you can make with a few coconut pantry staples: coconut flour, coconut oil and coconut milk. And the list of coconut products goes on: coconut sugar, coconut butter, coconut cream, shredded coconut and coconut water.
Three Pantry Basics
Coconut flour is a great source of fiber, low in carbohydrates, a good source of protein and is gluten-free. It is fantastically rich in texture and has a natural sweetness – perfect in baked goods. Coconut flour is a popular substitute for wheat flour in many baking recipes.
Coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids, which are more easily digested and absorbed in the body than other fats, coconut oil has been is well-tolerated in those who have problems digesting fat. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are not stored in adipose tissues like long-chain fatty acids. So in the healthcare field there has been interest in using coconut oil as an alternative fat source for reducing obesity and body fat. It is ideal for cooking, especially in high heat, such as baking. It can withstand high heats without its chemical composition altering.
Coconut milk is the liquid expressed from the grated meat and water of the coconut. It’s an ideal replacement for heavy cream and milk in recipes. Coconut milk is the main ingredient in my homemade ice cream recipe.
Coconut Recipes
Here are some more of my favourite coconut recipes of all time:
- Mini blueberry muffins
- Any curry dish! Here’s a great Slow-cooked chicken curry
- Strawberry coconut ice cream
- Chocolate cupcakes
- Pumpkin pancakes
- Banana colada
- Butternut squash soup
- Vanilla ice cream
Happy cooking!