Coconut Milk

Like canned chicken broth, unsweetened coconut milk is a multitasking ingredient, adding rich texture and exotic flavor to different kinds of recipes—from curries to candies.

For more coconut milk recipes, see our coconut milk slideshow.

Taste Test

F&W tested almost a dozen brands of unsweetened coconut milk to find the three with the purest flavor.

Bali Spice All Natural Premium Coconut Milk

From an all-female- owned-and-run factory in Indonesia, it has a light and pourable consistency.

Thai Kitchen Premium Coconut Milk

Made from the first pressing of fresh coconut; natural emulsifiers account for its rich texture.

Chaokoh Coconut Milk

This Thai-produced coconut milk has a thick, puddinglike consistency; you scoop it out of the can rather than pour it.

Cooking Tips

1. Substitute coconut milk for whole milk or cream to add richness to soups, stews, sauces and dressings or to flavor puddings, custards and frostings.

2. Use it to make a quick Asian dessert: Dissolve some sugar and a pinch of salt in coconut milk on the stovetop, then fold it into warm sticky rice and top it with slices of fresh mango.

3. Mix it with prepared red or green curry paste, a splash of fish sauce, a bit of brown sugar and a handful of shredded basil to instantly flavor a stir-fry.

Published May 2004