Coconut dilemma
Posted by KAD on Jun 26, 2010 · Member since Jun 2010 · 32 posts
OK my dilemma is I can't stand coconut and because of this I'm actually afraid of trying anything with it in it. At all, from oil to water. Its a texture and taste issue for me. Is there an alternative I can use? So many recipes I want to try call for coconut oil. If its not to strong I would be willing to try it. The same with coconut milk. I'm not sure how to proceed and some of the recipes I want to make sound so yummy and have been reviewed here as really yummy. Any ideas would be most helpful and appreciated!
Thanks,
Kelly
Coconut oil has a neutral flavor meaning that it is pretty much flavorless. It tastes and smells nothing like coconut. With coconut milk you can taste a tiny bit of coconut but you're usually covering it up with deep flavored spices so you don't really taste it at all.
Btw- you can sub any oil in place of coconut oil so if veggie oil is what you have, go ahead and use that. Coconut oil is better/healthier for you though.
When it comes to coconut milk though, I wouldn't sub anything in place of it. Other milks wouldn't be the right consistency and would curdle from the heat. You really won't taste coconut in the milk, just try one recipe that has very high reviews and I'm sure you'll love it. If not, you only made one recipe so not much harm done there.
I don't like coconut much either, but coconut milk tastes different to me, it's just kind of fatty and sweet, it's hard to replace with anything else. Just try it in a meal once and if you don't like it you don't have to finish it :P
Make half a recipe of something with the coconut milk. I expected a coco-nutty taste when I first bought some and was disappointed! As others say, it's not a strong flavour at all. It works very well with curry spices.
Thank you all for your responses. I asked on a different site and got no response, so this is a nice feeling :)
I will definately try out some of these recipes now. I think I just needed to hear what the coconut items are like, none of my friends are veg/vegan, and none of them cook or bake a whole lot. The ones who do don't use coconut items unless its grated coconut. Now to go buy what I need to make these cupcakes! :)
Thank you!
Kelly
Let us know how it turns out!
One more thing: if you make a dish and it comes out too spicy, or spicy but not savoury, add a little coconut milk. It tones down the burn a little bit and you get more actual flavour from the spices.
I made a peanut sauce today and added a T or two of coconut milk and it came out really amazing... part of my thinks it might be a missing secret ingredient. :)
My mom hates coconut, but I made a curry with coconut milk and brought my sister the leftovers. My mom told me the next day she absolutely loved it and wanted to know the recipe. Give it a shot.
I immediately thought CURRY when I started reading your post- like the other responses. Definitely try one of the curry recipes on here with coconut milk. As far as coconut oil, it's makes good cookies
Go make yourself some savory curry and cookies for dessert !!
I'm curious what type of coconut don't you like?
I only ask because in experimenting with cooking with coconut, it turns out my coconut hating husband in fact only dislikes the overly sweetened shredded coconut flakes found in the baking aisle at the grocery store, and doesn't mind the more subtle flavor that cooking with coconut milk and oil gives to food.
I LOVE the chana masala here on VW (it's on the main page under the most viewed recipes, really popular). It calls for coconut milk, and I really like coconut milk, but I've used almond milk in place of the coconut milk for that recipe, and it worked just fine. Come to think of it, I don't think the original recipe has coconut milk in it, but lots of people make that substitution (I use 1/2 can for the recipe). Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that the curry worked out just fine without the coconut milk. It wasn't as thick and creamy, and I prefer the coconut milk, but in a pinch or if you don't like coconut, then the almond milk substituted just fine.
As for coconut oil--I've used this in many dishes now, including veggie burgers and homemade Larabars, and I can't taste the coconut flavor at all.
Almond milk does not have the richness and creaminess of coconut milk. I don't think it's an ample substitution at all.....
But as far as substituting coconut oil, you could try any solid fat. You could use Earth Balance or another vegan margarine, and Spectrum makes a good non-hydrogenated shortening that you could use too. See also: Palm oil.
Sorry its taken me a while to reply, i haven't been feeling well and haven't been cooking. My poor husband is trying to feed me. I seem to have vertigo atm and just feel blah.
I don't like coconut flakes or coconut liquor or anything that tastes like coconut. I will be trying the curry recipes as soon as I feel better and go grocery shopping. Hopefully this weekend. Turns out my husband loves curries. Hopefully i will be able to let you all know how it goes, just depends on the when the vertigo goes away.
Thanks for all your replies!
Kelly