what to do with creamed coconut blocks

jpscloud

Hi all, sorry if this isn't the right forum but I feel "safe" on OS

I have two packs of creamed coconut that I bought when I found it cheap in H&B but don't really make curry very often.

I could keep it in and use it up for curries, but I thought I'd ask you good folks if you have any other recipes (sweet or savoury) for it - I couldn't find much for the solid creamed coconut when I searched.

kafkathecat

I use it watered down instead of coconut milk in Thai, Indonesian and Carribean recipes. I have been know to just eat it when I have runout of chocolate too!

adelight

Sounds like what you have is a lump of dehydrated grated coconut. You can cut small chunks off the block and add it to recipes to make coconut rice, to rice pudding, soups (squash, carrot and lentil soups with some curry spices work well with coconut imo). It will just "dissolve" into the liquid after a bit of stirring.
You can grate it into cakes and cookies, jam and coconut muffins are delicious. Add grated coconut to muffin mix and plop a spoon of jam in the middle of each muffin before cooking. Even goes well in pancakes... but maybe it's just me that likes that? I am nuts for coconut!

I'm pretty sure you can use it in most recipes which call for coconut. If it specifies coconut cream I think you just dissolve the block in hot water. It might have some instruction on the packet.

ETA: if you have a small bit left over and a dry scalp, rub it into your scalp and leave it overnight before washing out, very moisturising.

Mrs.T20

Cook it with rice, add some black eyed beans or kidney beans and you will have rice 'n' peas

jpscloud

Thanks for those ideas!

One more question - once it's opened can you store it for a long time in the fridge or freezer, or does it go off quickly?

lostinrates

It stores for ages open in the fridge. I have the end of a block in their now and i am quite certain i haven't cooked anything with coconut in it since january.

I much prefer the nlocks, they have a cleaner fresher taste than tinned coconut milk, and can be addedto things that want coconut but do not need extra liquid as well as being watered dow to make milk. Its a much better product.

There are lots of cakes and biscuits you could try adding this to, this summer i plan to try making a coconut and lime icecream. Even grate a little into hot chocolate.

katieowl_2

I've made a coconut and lime jelly using tinned coconut milk. I can't see any reason why you couldn't use the blocks to do the same if you melted it in warm water first.

The jelly was YUM...

Kate