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Homemade Coconut Milk

Homemade Coconut Milk

Homemade Coconut Milk is creamy milk made from two ingredients: coconut meat and water.

It is dairy free and awesome for those on a vegan journey.

Making your own Coconut Milk at home is very simple and inexpensive.

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In every Jamaican household, making homemade coconut milk, is something that is done on every Sunday to make Jamaican Rice & Peas.

I would despised using a box grater because my mother refused to use her blender and use a canned or powder coconut milk.

All I know is the next day my finger tips would be hurting me from all the bruises and cuts they got from using the box grater.

So now that I am grown (chuckles), I use a blender to make coconut milk and sometimes canned coconut milk too.

What is Coconut Pulp?

Coconut Pulp is the white flesh (coconut meat) from a dry coconut that is blended with water that is left after the coconut milk is extracted.

It is a little sweet and nutty, that gives you that tropical flavor.

After making the homemade coconut milk, don’t throw away the pulp.

Use the coconut pulp to make Cakes, Jamaican Gizzada, Coconut Grater Cake, Smoothies, Energy bites and even some Face Mask Scrub.

Homemade Coconut Milk in a glass measuring cup and squeezed out coconut pulp.

What is the difference between Homemade and Canned Coconut Milk?

Homemade Coconut Milk is fresh milk that is great for Vegans and most importantly, dairy free.

While Canned Coconut Milk is packed with additives such as preservatives and additives to keep it longer on the shelf.

I used both homemade and canned coconut milk depending on what I am making.

Sometimes it is so hard to get a good dry coconut to make fresh homemade coconut milk.

How to store Homemade Coconut Milk

Homemade Coconut Milk can be stored in a sealed container and placed in a refrigerator.

It can stay in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 5 days.

Please shake before using because it will separate due to no preservatives in it.

How to make Homemade Coconut Milk

Firstly, grab a chopper cleaver or a hammer to break open the dry coconut. Use the back of the chopper cleaver (the side that is not sharp) or hammer to give it a few hit.

Using a chopper cleaver to break the coconut open to make homemade coconut milk.

Secondly, as you hit the dry coconut, be sure to have a bowl underneath it to catch the coconut water that will leak out of it. Continue to break up the big pieces into smaller pieces.

Broken coconut with the coconut water leaking out.
Broken coconut pieces.

Thirdly, use a dinner knife to remove the coconut meat from the shell.

Fourthly, use a box grater to grater the coconut pieces or slice each pieces into thin small pieces to blend. If you choose to blend, then add the coconut pieces and warm water to the blender and blend until it reaches a fine consistency.

Use a box grater to grater the coconut pieces.
Cut the coconut meat into small pieces for blending to make homemade coconut milk.
Blending the coconut pieces.

Finally, Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and pour the blended mixture in small batches. Use your hand to squeeze out the milk from the coconut pulp. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator or you can use it immediately.

Juicing the homemade coconut milk from the blended coconut mixture.
Homemade Coconut Milk Recipe in a glass pitcher.

Homemade Coconut Milk Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 medium dry Coconut
  • 3 cups warm Water

Instructions

  1. By using the back of a chopper cleaver or a hammer, break open the coconut (the shell).
  2. Place a bowl underneath the coconut while hitting it to break it open or pour the coconut water into a cup. Sometimes the coconut water can be consumed or discarded.
  3. Use a dinner knife to remove the coconut ‘meat’ from the shell. Be very careful doing this. If the coconut is very dry, then the coconut meat will be easy to remove.
  4. Use a box grater to grate the coconut meat or cut it up into small pieces to blend. For this recipe, I choose to blend the coconut pieces.
  5. Add the coconut pieces to the blender and pour the warm water.
  6. Blend until it reaches a fine consistency.
  7. Place a large strainer over a large bowl and pour the coconut mixture over it. You can also use a cheese cloth to strain the coconut mixture.
  8. Use your hands to squeeze out the coconut mixture to get all of the milk from the coconut mixture.
  9. Repeat the process until it is finish. You can save the coconut pulp to make baked goods such as Gizzada, grater cake, smoothies or even some energy bites.

Notes:

  1. Be very careful doing this: use a hammer or chopper cleaver to break open the coconut. Again, be very careful doing this part.
  2. Use a blender to blend the coconut pieces or a box grater to grate the coconut pieces.
  3. You can use a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer to strain the coconut mixture.

Additional Recipes

Please let me know what you think about the Homemade Coconut Milk Recipe in the comment section below, when you give it a try. Leave a rating also.

Thank you for stopping by, please come back again.

Blessings and Love, as you carry on, on your YouNique Journey!

Homemade Coconut Milk Recipe

Homemade Coconut Milk

Yield: 3 cups
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Homemade Coconut Milk is creamy milk made from two ingredients: coconut meat and water.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium dry Coconut
  • 3 cups warm Water

Instructions

  1. By using the back of a chopper cleaver or a hammer, break open the coconut (the shell).
  2. Place a bowl underneath the coconut while hitting it to break it open or pour the coconut water into a cup. Sometimes the coconut water can be consumed or discarded.
  3. Use a dinner knife to remove the coconut 'meat' from the shell. Be very careful doing this. If the coconut is very dry, then the coconut meat will be easy to remove.
  4. Use a box grater to grate the coconut meat or cut it up into small pieces to blend. For this recipe, I choose to blend the coconut pieces.
  5. Add the coconut pieces to the blender and pour the warm water.
  6. Blend until it reaches a fine consistency.
  7. Place a large strainer over a large bowl and pour the coconut mixture over it. You can also use a cheese cloth to strain the coconut mixture.
  8. Use your hands to squeeze out the coconut mixture to get all of the milk from the coconut mixture.
  9. Repeat the process until it is finish. You can save the coconut pulp to make baked goods such as Gizzada, grater cake, smoothies or even some energy bites.

Notes

  1. Be very careful doing this: use a hammer or chopper cleaver to break open the coconut. Again, be very careful doing this part.
  2. Use a blender to blend the coconut pieces or a box grater to grate the coconut pieces.
  3. You can use a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer to strain the coconut mixture.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 388Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 271mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 8gSugar: 31gProtein: 3g

The nutritional information that is provided, is computer generated and therefore it is an estimate. Please do your own research with the ingredients that are listed here, if you have any concern about any specific diet or your health.

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