6 Delicious And Creative Recipes That Use Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is a traditional food ingredient used in Asia and East Africa. It has a delicious sweet, floral, nutty flavour and is becoming increasingly popular in the UK as a drink and as an ingredient. It can be used in really unique ways to make some great recipes. Without further ado here are 5 delicious and creative recipes that use coconut milk.

1. Satay Chicken

Satay chicken or vegetables is my absolute favourite meal to order from the Chinese takeaway but if you want to be healthier or save money it is also extremely easy to make at home. All you need is coconut milk, peanut butter (if you can find peanut butter powder that has much fewer calories), curry powder, sugar, garlic, salt and soy sauce.

To make the satay sauce stir all the ingredients together over a medium and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. To make the meal even yummier you can marinate the chicken 2 hours in advance with coconut milk, garlic, curry powder, and salt. Either eat all together in a bowl or thread the chicken onto skewers and dip into the sauce. Perfect for a BBQ.

Full Recipe

2. Chocolate Chip Blueberry Quinoa

Courtesy of How Sweet Eats this scrumptious breakfast delight uses coconut milk to boil and soften the quinoa and pass on its flavour. Combine coconut milk, cinnamon, and vanilla in the saucepan with quinoa and bring to a boil. Turn to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until quinoa is done.

To finish off the breakfast you’ll need vanilla extract, cinnamon, chocolate chips, and fresh blueberries. Sprinkle the cooked quinoa with chocolate chips. If you let sit for a couple of minutes the chips will melt. Finally, add in a few drizzles of coconut milk, then the blueberries.

3. Caramelised Cauliflower and Coconut Soup

Made with roasted cauliflower, coconut milk, cilantro and inspired by the flavours of South East Asia. Cauliflower is no longer plain and boring but an exciting supplement.

Preheat your oven to 200c and prepare and cut the cauliflower into small florets. Coat the vegetable thoroughly in the oil, and roast it in the oven for 20/30 minutes, until it goes a nice even caramel colour. When roasted transfer the cauliflower to a saucepan and pour over the coconut milk and chicken stock (use vegetable stock to make vegetarian and vegan-friendly).

Bring the soup to the boil, add the coriander, then simmer gently for 10 minutes. Blend the soup in a food processor or use a hand blender until it is smooth and creamy. Perfect for a cold winter day.

Full Recipe

4. Pina Colada Cocktail

Would it be summer without cocktails? No way! If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain, then you’ll love this! Wink wink. You’ll need 250ml coconut milk, 250ml pineapple juice, 125ml rum, 4 tablespoons caster sugar, and 8 ice cubes. Combine coconut milk, pineapple juice, rum, and sugar and shake. Pour over ice into glasses and serve immediately.

5. Tomato and Chickpea Curry

Curry is a meal that often uses coconut milk in its making and this recipe from BBC Good Food does just that. As a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, chickpeas offer a variety of health benefits, such as improving digestion, helping weight management and decreasing the risk of several diseases.

To make the curry you will need 2 onions, 2 garlic cloves, 1tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander, 400g can of plum tomatoes, 4ooml coconut milk, 400g of chickpeas and cooked basmati rice to serve. So delicious!

Coconut milk really is diverse, tasty and unique. Here are only a few recipes you can make but the possibilities are endless.