Making Fresh Coconut Milk
There is no comparison between canned milk and the batch you press yourself. The process is tactile, requiring you to handle the heavy, oily meat of a mature coconut to extract its character.
Choosing the right nut
Select a mature, brown coconut. When you shake it, you must hear plenty of liquid sloshing inside, and the shell should feel heavy for its size.
- Heavy-duty cleaver or hammer
- Box grater or food processor
- Nut milk bag or double-layered cheesecloth
- Large mixing bowl
What goes in.
- 1mature brown coconut
- 2 cupshot water (not boiling)
Pressing the fiber
The strength of your squeeze dictates the yield. Twist the cloth tightly until the solids are nearly dry to ensure the thickest cream is extracted.
The method.
Open the coconut
Pierce the softest eye with a screwdriver to drain the water. Tap the shell firmly around the equator with the back of a cleaver until it splits cleanly.
Extract the meat
Pry the white meat away from the shell using a sturdy knife. Use a vegetable peeler to shave off the brown, leathery skin attached to the back of the meat.
Process
Grate the meat or pulse it in a food processor until it resembles coarse sawdust. Transfer to a bowl and pour the hot water over it.
Strain
Pour the mixture into your cloth. Gather the edges and twist, pressing the liquid into a bowl until only dry, chalky coconut pulp remains.
Other turns to take.
Coconut Cream
Use only 1 cup of water instead of two. The resulting liquid will be thicker and have a higher fat content, ideal for reducing into a rich glaze.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Don't discard the leftover pulp; toast it in a dry pan until golden and use it for granola or baking.
The milk will naturally separate into a thick cream layer on top after chilling; stir it vigorously before use.
Use water just off the boil to help draw the oils out of the coconut meat more effectively.
The ones that keep coming up.
How long will this last?
Keep it in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for no more than three days.
Can I use the coconut water from inside?
Yes, you can substitute the plain water with the reserved coconut water for a slightly sweeter final product.
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