Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1455 posts
Mar 10, 2006
1:43 PM
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I was wondering if you have ever tried using coconut powder. It is supposed to be lower in fat than the creamed coconut in the little boxes (alot of the fat is removed, I think). I think you could add a spoonful or two to my mock coconut milk, instead of the coconut flavoring, for a more authentic flavor.
Here is something about it from gourmetsleuth.com:
"A powder made from desicated (dried) coconut. The powdered product usually contains maltodextrins and sometimes salt. The powder can be used for making desserts or added to curries or chutneys. Look for coconut powder in stores that carry Indian foods. Delia Smith of Delia Online suggests keeping it on hand as a pantry staple..."
You might be able to find it in little packets at your Indian grocery. Other wise, you can buy it online at these US sites:
http://www.instantcurry.com/curry_products_2.htm
(They say" Cocos is the only instant coconut powder that's lower in fat and enriched with Vitamin E. Prepared from fresh, quality coconuts, Cocos gives you the rich creaminess of freshly-squeezed coconut milk, but with a healthy twist - in powder form! Perfect for the health-conscious. Convenient and easy to use, Cocos mixes smoothly and instantly everytime - with no mess. It even retains the natural creamy fragrance of freshly grated coconut milk! So you can be sure your recipes will turn out absolutely delicious everytime.")
http://www.indiaplaza.com/grocery/pd.aspx?sku=304471
And this outfit from Arizona that sells soap and specialty vegan products (!!), including coconut powder, which they sell as a coffee creamer:
http://www.sungoldsoap.com/products_coconutcream.html
Here's their description:
http://www.sungoldsoap.com/product_descriptions/coconut_cream.html
According to their nutrition facts, 2 T. would contain 7 g fat and 80 calories..not too bad, if you added that to my very-low-calorie mock coconut milk. If you added 1 T. of the coconut powder to 1 c. of my mock coconut milk (below) it would be 113 calories and 5.8 g. fat. 1 cup of "A Taste of Thai Lite Coconut Milk" contains 135 calories and 12 g fat! I'm going to try it! (We can buy coconut powder in all the supermarkets here.)
BRYANNA’S Mock "Coconut Milk"
This taste deliciously rich, and can be used in East Indian, West Indian, Southeast Asian and other dishes which call for coconut milk (the real thing contains from 45 to 60 g of fat per cup!).
1/4 cup reduced-fat firm or extra-firm silken tofu
3/4 cup Almond Breeze beverage (plain)
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract, or to taste
Mix in a blender until very smooth. Refrigerate in a covered jar.
VARIATIONS:
For "Coconut Cream" or Thick Coconut "Milk", use 1/2 cup of the silken tofu, and 1/2 cup Almond Breeze.
For a thinner "milk", omit the tofu and use 1 c. Almond Breeze.
Note on coconut extract:
Frontier Naturals is a line of natural flavorings that is sold in natural food stores.
For alcohol-free quality natural flavor extracts, check here;
http://www.bickfordflavors.com/
Yield: 1 cup
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per cup of basic recipe): 66.0 calories; 32% calories from fat; 2.3g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 160.7mg sodium; 170.7mg potassium; 6.6g carbohydrates; 0.8g fiber; 5.5g sugar; 5.9g net carbs; 4.3g protein; 1.4 points.
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1456 posts
Mar 10, 2006
1:51 PM
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Of course, omit the coconut flavoring if you use the coconut powder.
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Debbie
1046 posts
Mar 10, 2006
2:07 PM
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Hi Bryanna,
No, I have never used coconut powder. This might be good. One of them is made in Malaysia (the Coco brand). I wonder if Val knows about it (I'll ask her).
I was thinking that the reason the extract is not good to be used in the mock coconut milk is because it is designed for cakes. It has the 'coconut perfumy' smell if you know what I mean. The real coconut doesn't have the 'perfumy' (sort of like suntan lotion with coconut) smell.
So if the coconut powder doesn't have this 'perfumy' smell it might be the ticket to create the mock coconut milk.
I will look for it in Indian markets (or Asian market).
Thanks Bryanna!
I believe that Lite Coconut Milk is just a watered down coconut milk which is easy just to buy regular coconut milk and add 2 times of the amount with water. But it will loose it's creaminess. What do you think about combining the Lite Coconut milk (like the Thai Taste brand) with soy milk or lite silken tofu? Maybe it will not be coconuty enough?
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Debbie
Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. ~ Harriet Van Horne
Last Edited Debbie on 10-Mar-2006 3:44 PM
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1457 posts
Mar 10, 2006
2:35 PM
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It's worth a try! Let me know what you think tastes the best, will you?
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1458 posts
Mar 10, 2006
2:51 PM
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Another thought-- I haven't made coconut milk for a long time, but I used to, in the blender with dessicated unsweetened coconut and hot water. The fat would come to the top if you left it (I think in the refrigerator, but I can't remember) and you could skim it off.
Here are instructions from the "Book of Tempeh":
"Put 1-1/2 cups dried coconut in blender with 2-1/4 cups very hot tap water. Let stand 5 minutes, then puree for 1 minute. Pour coconut puree into fine mesh strainer set over a bowl and press to expel as much milk as possible."
I would twist it in cheesecloth.
I'm going to try this, too.
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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Debbie
1048 posts
Mar 10, 2006
3:30 PM
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Thanks Bryanna! I will let you know. Does dessicated unsweetened coconut has low fat in it?
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Debbie
Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. ~ Harriet Van Horne
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1459 posts
Mar 10, 2006
4:03 PM
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No, but I was just thinking that if alot or most of the fat comes to the top of the milk when it stands for a while (overnight?), as i remember, you could scoop most of the fat off, like skimming cream off the top of unhomogeonized milk.
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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cv
148 posts
Mar 11, 2006
7:43 PM
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Hi Debbie,
Check out these Lite/Light organic coconut products
http://edwardandsons.com/SellSheetFront_Coconut.html
Catherine
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Bryanna
Owner/Moderator
1463 posts
Mar 12, 2006
7:30 AM
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Thanks, Catherine! But their lite coconut milk is still 200 calories and 20 g fat per cup! Taste of Thai lite coconut milk is 135 calories per cup and 12 g fat. If the coconut powder, plus my mock coconut milk ends up tasting good (I have to wait until I go shopping to try it), it would be 113 calories per cup and only 5.8 g fat!
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"To look like a goddess, eat like a peasant." Karen Andres
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cv
149 posts
Mar 12, 2006
10:46 AM
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Wow! What a difference! Your combo sounds like the way to go Let us know how it turns out. Catherine
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Debbie
1049 posts
Mar 12, 2006
6:03 PM
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I bought Lite Coconut milk, Nature Value brand. The nutritional value is 4 g. fat per 1/4 cup ( 1 cup = 16 g. of fat ). I added 1/2 cup water(2 times water) and 1/2 cup lite silken tofu (1 g. fat) to 1/4 cup of lite coconut milk. This becomes 4 g. fat per cup. I like the creaminess at this stage. But the coconut flavor is diminishing. May be using the coconut powder is a great idea.
Water or low fat soy milk + lite silken tofu is a great idea for the creaminess. Lite silken tofu is very low fat: .5 g per 3 oz (about 1/4 of the aseptic box).
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Debbie
Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. ~ Harriet Van Horne
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