These tasty coconut milk recipes go far beyond Thai curry or rice pudding.
This amazing vegan “milk” can be used as a milk substitute in everything from pancakes and icing to soup and pasta sauce.
Not only that, but it is available in several styles
.
I like to use the unsweetened type for my coffee, while the coconut cream makes my sauces extra thick and silky smooth
.
Even if you’re not lactose intolerant or looking for something vegan, coconut milk is a tasty and healthy choice to regular milk.
It is also ideal for those allergic to almonds and who need an alternative to walnut milk.
Whether you’re cooking for some vegan friends or just looking for some dairy-free dishes for yourself, I know you’ll find some great options in this list of 30 coconut milk recipes
.
1. Homemade
coconut milk recipe The truth is that
dairy-free milk is more expensive
than regular milk.
But did you know that you can actually make most of them at home for a fraction of the cost?
I’ve been making oat milk for a while, and it tastes just like store-bought stuff.
For this coconut milk recipe, you’ll need grated coconut (the recipe calls for no sugar, but it would work just as well with the sweetened type) and a decent blender.
Put the coconut and water in the blender and let it slide until it is thick and creamy. Strain the mixture to get rid of the lumps and enjoy!
2. Creamy steel-cut
oatmeal with coconut milk
Sure, you can make oatmeal with water, and it will taste good (if a little mediocre). But there’s nothing like a bowl of creamy oatmeal to start the day.
Using coconut milk will give you the same rich flavor and texture, plus a little boost of flavor to boot.
Using a slow cooker will leave you with such a good texture, but it takes a little longer. An Instant Pot has this ready in just 20 minutes!
3. Coconut flour (and milk!) Pancakes
Coconut flour is gluten-free and coconut milk
is dairy-free, making it a killer combo!
And there’s no way for you to know that these aren’t your normal whey stack
.
They’re super fluffy, and the only real difference is that you’ll need extra eggs here because coconut flour is more absorbent.
One thing to keep in mind is that these aren’t too sweet, and the recipe uses just a little maple syrup instead of a ton of sugar.
I recommend trying the recipe as it is and then adjusting it to your liking once you see how they taste
.
4. French coconut milk toast
Although this recipe does not contain dairy, it still includes eggs, which means it is not suitable for vegans
.
I recommend using whole coconut milk or even coconut cream to make sure the cream is as thick and creamy as possible
.
5. Coconut
and lime dressing
When temperatures are warmer, I like to eat lighter meals
.
That’s why I love this simple noodle salad with a creamy and refreshing coconut and lime dressing
.
All you need to do is whisk everything together until it’s soft and emulsified, then pour over your cooked noodles and shrimp (or chicken).
6
.
30-minute coconut curry I don’t think I’ve ever made curry without coconut milk. It is creamy and has just the right level of sweetness to cut the spice.
The best part about this recipe is that it uses a lot of vegetables, so it’s super tasty and full of texture
.
It’s also nice and easy, using some curry powder and cayenne instead of a long list of spices
.
7. Pecan Vegan Maple Bread Pudding
Making vegan bread pudding requires a couple of extra steps, but in the end it’s worth it
.
Normally, you would mix eggs with milk and sugar, pour the mixture over stale bread and let the oven do the work.
Here, however, you will make a vegan cream using coconut milk and cornstarch, get it nice and thick before pouring it over the bread and baking.
In this way, you will guarantee a creamy custard finish
.
8. Coconut Milk Thai Iced Coffee
If you’ve ever tried Thai iced coffee, you’ll know it’s ultra-rich, thanks to condensed milk
.
Well, this recipe is just as rich and creamy. You will only need to make your own condensed coconut milk. Do not worry; It’s super simple.
It should boil and then simmer for about 30 minutes until thick, then add your extras
.
This recipe calls for maple syrup, cardamom, and almond extract, but I like brown sugar and vanilla
.
9. Anything
you have coconut curry soup
By name, this coconut curry soup can be made with just about anything
. I
love that I use whole coconut milk for richness and then thicken it with mashed vegetables (so smart, by the way!).
As for the ingredients, fried tofu will give it an amazing texture
.
Just remember to get the extra firm type and be sure to “press” all the excess fluid.
You can do this by simply placing the block on a plate and adding some weight on top. Pat dry and cut into cubes for the crunchiest tofu ever!
10. Easy Coconut Chickpea Curry
Between garlic, onion,
ginger, garam masala, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne, and tomatoes, this curry is full of amazing flavor
.
Canned chickpeas will make this recipe go much faster, but if you want to save a little money, feel free to use them dry
.
You will only need to soak them overnight and rinse thoroughly before adding them to the pot.
11. Starbucks Pink Drink Recipe
What was originally a secret menu item (though I’ve never figured out how people know), this pink drink has certainly been all over your Instagram feed for the past few years
.
It’s clear why. Just look at how adorable that thing is!
But that’s not all. The mixture of strawberries, passion fruit and coconut milk is more than irresistible.
When I’ve already taken my caffeine for the day, there is nothing better to refresh myself than this sweet
.
12. Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup
This soup is a fantastic mix of salty, sweet and just the right amount of spicy
.
Since it includes sweet potatoes, it’s naturally sweet, but the spices also give it a lovely salty note
.
Of course, coconut milk is necessary for that rich, creamy texture, and you can always cut back on spices if you don’t like it too hot
.
13. Creamy coconut corn
is
the perfect side for everything from chicken to ribs, and it’s so easy to make!
This recipe is especially delicious because it includes garlic, lemongrass, ginger, and jalapeños
.
I like to use these spice bags in recipes like this so you don’t have to fish for loose garlic cloves
.
14. Vegan Alfredo Sauce
with Coconut Milk In addition to
coconut milk, there are three ingredients here that you may not have at home but are essential
.
First, tapioca starch is used to thicken the sauce and give it a cheesy texture.
Next, the nutritional yeast gives the sauce a wonderful umami flavor along with a touch of cheese (without adding real cheese).
Finally, liquid smoke will help emulate a smoked cheese. Just don’t use too much! This is quite strong.
15. Thai Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk
I can’t get over how vibrant and fresh this soup is. And it’s also totally natural!
If you prefer your soup with a little texture, try pulling out a little before bombarding it
.
That said, this is very thick, and a few crispy shallots on top should be more than enough.
Among the jalapeño, Lime, lemongrass and ginger, this is definitely not your usual broccoli soup.
But it will also warm you up on a cold day
.
16. Coconut curry vegetables (30 minutes!)
Kale is a member of the cabbage family, although they are very dark and hold their shape much better when cooked.
They’re a bit like a cross between kale, Swiss chard, and spinach, all of which would be a great substitute in this recipe.
Using coconut milk will give them a little creaminess, which helps to cut out the slight bitterness of the vegetables.
17. Malaysian curry
tofu
I know it’s in the title, but you can swap tofu for cauliflower here if you want. That’s what I did, and it was delicious!
Also, you don’t
need to make tofu balls if you don’t have time.
Just go ahead and use regular, frying extra-firm tofu (after pressing on excess fluid, of course).
18. Coconut
rice
Do you raise your hand if you have difficulty cooking rice to perfection?
I don’t know what it is, but I always end up with something super dry, or soft, or even burned
.
Hopefully, this recipe can end our rice problems
!
You will start by rinsing the rice until the water comes out mostly clear. This removes starches and any dirt from the outside.
Next, you will need to soak it for about 20 minutes before cooking
.
The last step is to use coconut milk and water to cook the rice because coconut milk is not completely absorbed
.
19. Thai Red Curry with Vegetables
I must do this once a week: it is colorful, tasty and ready to eat in just 40 minutes
. As much as I love homemade curry, when I’m in a hurry
, I’m more than happy to take a shortcut and use curry paste (and even when I’m not in a hurry!).
The rice above would be perfect with this or feel free to use noodles if you like them better.
20. Thai
Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk Just as sweet potato and coconut milk go hand in
hand, so do
pumpkin and coconut milk. Since
pumpkin is not so sweet, this soup has a tastier taste, which perfectly matches lemongrass and ginger
.
Since we like spicy things in my house, I added a tablespoon of red curry paste to the onions and garlic.
He gave everything a wonderful warmth and a beautiful red hue.
21. Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry
I
never liked lentils until I tried them in curry. What a game changer! I
always knew they were good for us; I never enjoyed the texture too much.
In curry, they become charming and tender and absorb so much amazing flavor
.
You’ll be using canned tomatoes to speed things up, and the most you need to do here is take care of
the pot.
Once you’ve softened the onions and toasted the spices, it’s just a matter of stirring everything several times to prevent it from snagging at the bottom of the pot
.
22. Coconut Buttercream Icing
Regular American buttercream is not my favorite thing in the world
. I
almost always use Swiss meringue or cream cheese icing when I’m baking because I’m not a big fan of all that
butter.
This recipe is similar to American buttercream; just use coconut milk (or cream to add richness and flavor).
It is soft as silk and pipes as a dream.
Plus, it keeps its shape perfectly, and the subtle coconut flavor works well with almost any flavor cake you have.
23. Coconut and strawberry smoothie
and banana
Strawberry and banana are without a doubt, my favorite flavor combination. It is almost perfect and excellent in ice cream, smoothies and cakes.
When I make smoothies, I like them to be thick and creamy, which usually involves milk (or ice cream if I’m feeling flamboyant).
A good vegan alternative is, of course,
coconut milk.
Although this recipe calls for crushed ice, I don’t like watering my smoothies
.
So, I either beep and freeze the fruit or freeze the coconut milk in ice cube trays
.
24. Thai Mango Coconut Pudding
There is no better fruit than mango. It’s sweet, sticky, soft, shiny, fresh and as good on a cake as it is on a taco.
Since I found this recipe, I think I’ve made it twice a week, every week, and I’m still not sick of it.
Between the sensational taste of mango and the wonderful creaminess of coconut milk, this could be the perfect dessert!
25. Coconut with Milk:
Disney Cruise Imitation Recipe
What makes this rice pudding better than all the other rice puddings out there?
Well, it
contains four different types of milk, on the one hand: coconut, regular, condensed and heavy cream.
So, it’s not exactly a healthy recipe! But it’s incredibly rich and creamy and totally addictive.
Golden raisins are optional, but I think they add something special to the mix (especially if you soak them in rum first!).
26. Recipe for hot chocolate with coconut milk
Can we all agree to stop buying those cocoa packages? You know, the ones with all the sugar and zero real chocolate flavor?
I mean, when it’s so easy to do something from scratch, why wouldn’t you take a few extra minutes and do something higher?
Feel free to use any type of milk in this recipe, but coconut adds another level of richness to the drink that you simply won’t get from almond milk.
27. Coconut
ice cream
Four-ingredient vegan ice cream that doesn’t need a refrigerator? This could be dangerous!
All you need to do is mix everything and freeze it in ice cube trays. Then, once it’s solid, mix it like you would banana ice cream.
Eat it directly from the blender or put it in the freezer for later.
28. Banana tapioca
(Che Chuoi)
This unusual dessert is creamy, sweet and chewy in equal parts, thanks to banana pearls, coconut milk and
tapioca.
If you’ve never cooked with tapioca before, I recommend making a small batch of “try”
first.
Some people find that they stick or overcook, so try a small amount first to see how they do before adding too many to the pot.
Once you get the hang of it, this quick little gift is such a fun and different option for a hot summer night when you just want something fresh and sweet.
29. Creamy
Coconut Popsicles and Mixed
Berries Speaking of fresh sweets for hot summer nights, it doesn’t get any better than these beautiful coconut and berry popsicles
!
You can mix the berries with coconut milk if you want everything to be creamy, but I love this color contrast
.
Plus, you have the option of grabbing a bite of the creamy end or a fresh touch of sour berries
.
30. Coconut Tres Leches Tres Leches will
always be a fan favorite. It is sweet and creamy and full of flavor. Not to mention, it’s incredibly humid!
If you really wanted to boost that coconut flavor, you could make condensed coconut milk and use it instead.
But between coconut milk and grated coconut, I think it’s pretty tasty.
Or, you can use whipped coconut cream instead of regular whipped cream.
