Food Business: Using Coconut in Your Cooking

Coconut is one fruit that’s both delicious and nutritious, and comes with numerous health benefits. This complete food is rich in vitamins, minerals, and calories, and can be taken in quite a number of ways. You can:

• Whip coconut milk to create a perfect alternative to regular whipped cream.
• Freeze coconut milk, and try it out as coconut ice cream or coconut yogurt.
• Add garnished coconut as topping for your puddings or soups.
• Use coconut milk to make different kinds of sauces.
• Instead of bread crumbs, try adding garnished coconut to your baked or fried foods.

If you’re a ‘foodpreneur’ looking to introduce something unique onto your kitchen shelve, then introducing the latest coconut products list is the way to go! Below are some of the most delicious ways you can use coconut in your cooking:

1. Coconut Meat

This is the thick, white part of the coconut fruit. Coconut meat can be taken raw or cooked, and is an excellent source of fiber. It can be used in a variety of ways. You can slice it and dry it into coconut chips, you can consume it raw as a fruit, you can garnish it and top it on your salad or chocolate cake, and you can also ferment it and use it to make coconut yogurt.

The pulp left after coconut meat has been strained and drained is usually used to make coconut flour. The flour is grain-free and gluten-free as well, and can be used in a variety of baked products, including cake, bread, and biscuits.

2. Coconut Milk

To make coconut milk, you simply hollow out the coconut fruit, grate the coconut meat, soak it in water, and then squeeze it through a strainer. The milk’s consistency varies depending on the amount of water and the number of times the coconut meat is strained. This natural blend is quite perfect for vegan or dairy-free diets. If you’re running a vegan restaurant, then coconut should be a top ingredient. As mentioned earlier, coconut milk can be used in soups, ice creams, baked products, smoothies, pies, etc.

3. Coconut Oil

Whether refined or non-refined, coconut oil is a kind of saturated fat that aside from its sweet aroma and flavor, comes with loads of health benefits. The oil doesn’t turn into fat in your body. It increases metabolism, adds energy, and is good for hair and nails. The oil is good for cooking because it has a high smoke point and can take higher temperatures compared to vegetable oils. Also, unlike other cooking oils, the oil is quite stable and hardly goes rancid. The coconut flavor will give your food a distinct taste and keep customers flowing in.

4. Coconut Water

Coconut water comes with a naturally sweet taste. It can be used as a substitute for water when baking or making soups. You can use it in smoothies or raw desserts for a tantalizing blend of flavors. You can also drink the water straight up. It comes with a lot of health benefits.