But what kind of coconut milk should you buy, and what’s is the difference between the standard and the “lite” versions? Trader Joe’s is additive-free, but light coconut milk is not always desirable. Finally, there's also something out there called “lite coconut milk,” which is essentially the two-percent milk of coconut milk. However, if you want to retain some of the flavor without the fattening aspects, you can use light canned coconut milk as an alternative. All rights reserved. Quantity of Coconut Milk Required: 1 cup. You may be looking to reduce the fat content of … I use light coconut milk for coffee, it works better for me. Cooking advice that works. light is just the same coconut milk with water added. Well, it’s not milk in the dairy sense, but close to its level of creaminess. Welcome to the world of coconut, where everything is rich, delicious, and full of brain-boosting, fat-burning, and energizing medium-chain fatty acids (1, 2).There’s nothing left to do but grab yourself a box of coconut milk and get cooking, right? The refrigerated coconut milk you might spy is not typically intended for cooking, but for putting into coffee, drinking plain, and perhaps adding to cereal. There are a few types of coconut milk on grocery store shelves. Want to use it in a meal plan? This will sometimes be labeled “light” or “lite” coconut milk. Coconut milk typically works best with Asian-style flavor profiles, like Thai or Indian, but … Finally, there's also something out there called “lite coconut milk,” which is essentially the two-percent milk of coconut milk. Lars. I've heard this will last a couple of week in the fridge. Organic Coconut Milk (organic coconut, water, organic guar gum). Coconut Milk: Coconut Milk isn’t the same stuff you get straight from the coconut–it is processed a bit more. Recipes you want to make. Regular coconut milk is too thick for coffee I find. I've substituted coconut milk for SCM in macaroons, and I like them better. A generous splash of light coconut milk enriches this dairy-free chowder, making it creamy while offering a faint sweet flavor that enhances the sweetness of the corn. It’s pretty decadent, and can sometimes be used in the place of regular coconut milk, but be careful: It is a lot thicker and contains less water, so it might screw up the hydration level in a baking recipe. There are at least two BPA-free brands: Native Forest and Trader Joe’s Light Coconut Milk. Companies will often add a bunch of extra stabilizers and weird things to products like these so they’ll look more like the genuine article, but those additives can sometimes contribute funky or otherwise off flavors, so we avoid whenever possible. nope. For one, you will sometimes be able to find cans labeled "coconut cream," which, as you might guess, is richer and fattier than your standard issue coconut milk—it’s just a whole can filled with the extra-rich stuff that floats to the top of a normal can of coconut milk. I have a question about coconut milk - is there a difference between light vs. regular? Not so fast. There's nothing wrong with cream of coconut per se, but you definitely do not want to accidentally use it in the place of regular coconut milk in, say, a curry dish, unless you want it to taste like dessert. This simple, big-flavor chicken thigh dish is a great intro to the fundamentals of braising—once you've got the method down, you can braise just about anything. Ad Choices. So what is coconut milk, exactly? Unfortunately I find both of them lacking in flavor. What Are the Advantages of Coconut Milk Vs. Native Forest is organic, but contains guar gum. do not be afraid of the fat. Rich and thick and more like cream than milk, coconut milk delivers 445 calories and 48 grams of fat (43 grams saturated) per cup. The kind for cooking typically comes in a can, and differs a lot from the cartons of non-dairy "milk substitute" that people use for smoothies and cereal. Light canned coconut milk is closer to the fat and calorie content of whole milk. You can save money, buy regular coconut milk, and water it down to your liking. Check the ingredients on most light coconut milks. (Best for Cooking) Highly suitable for making … But making coconut milk is fairly straightforward. And don’t confuse the canned coconut milk with the more processed coconut milk in the carton. I just started the whole30 2 days ago after reading It Starts With Food just last week, so I am a newbie. Here are the best evaporated milk substitutes. I didn't see any differences in the ingredients or sugar content so I am tempted to go with the light version, but I also don't think that's the right idea for whole30. These ingredients are also true of every other brand of canned coconut milk I have encountered, such as Thai Kitchen, 365, and Trader Joe’s Light Coconutmilk. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Head to the diet generator and enter the number of calories you want. It irks me that Trader Joe's has nothing but light coconut milk, but sometimes I still buy it in a pinch when I can't get to the Super G asian mart. It can benefit health in several ways, such as by stimulating weight loss and lowering cholesterol. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. We’ve got answers for you. July 25, 2012 in Food, Drink and Condiments. Adding coconut flakes would also help it to stay together. Coconut milk is a white, milky substance extracted from the flesh of mature coconuts. It is the result of the pulverized flesh of coconuts combined with water, and has a slightly thicker consistency than regular whole milk (for even thicker coconut yogurt, use only the coconut cream that rises to the top). If you want it more watery, you could add some yourself, but in all seriousness, you want that good fat. And then, confusingly, there's cream of coconut, which is a different thing entirely. It’s pretty much the opposite of coconut cream—it has less fat than regular coconut milk, and tends to be more watery-looking in the can. Instant Coconut Milk Powder. Bon Appétit may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Thank you! And what about coconut cream?! This we know: You can't milk a coconut. They are two very different products! Either use right away or refrigerate. nope. BPA is another concern with canned coconut milk. At least it doesn't have guar gum in it, which I swear I can taste. do not be afraid of the fat. Here’s what you need to know about the differences, and our favorite brand for cooking. But there are a few other products that you might come across while shopping that are worth knowing about. Add guilt-free body and flavor to your family's favorite Asian dishes, beverages and even desserts! Thank you, ~TDQ Despite the name, canned and carton-ed coconut milks are two very different products with two very different purposes. If you want it more watery, you could add some yourself, but in all seriousness, you want that good fat. They add water to dilute pure coconut milk and then sell it to the people who have been taught that fat is bad. Here is … First and foremost: The coconut milk you now find in the dairy case next to the soy milk, cow’s milk, and nut milks is not like the one you find in a can down the center aisle near the soy sauce. Restaurant recommendations you trust. Heres the breakdown: Regular Coconut Milk: 111 calories per serving and 12 grams of fat, with 5 grams of that as saturated fat. There is a big difference between regular coconut milk, at 45 grams of fat per cup, and the light version, at about 12 grams of fat per cup. You can shake the can up to combine the cream and the milk, or just dump it into a pot and stir—it will come together in the cooking process. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Our go-to brand is Thai Kitchen Organic Coconut Milk, because it has the most clean, pure coconut flavor of all the brands we’ve tried and a nice amount of fat. If lactose intolerance or milk allergy is prompting a switch to coconut milk, first take a look at coconut milk versus milk to weigh which is better for you. Cream of coconut is also made from pureed coconut meat, but is blended with a ton of sugar, and is normally used for sweet, rather than savory, applications—think blended drinks like piña coladas. Ideas? light is just the same coconut milk with water added. RICH & CREAMY COCONUT MILK: With 64% less fat than regular coconut milk, our Organic Light Coconut Milk imparts creamy goodness & makes a delicious addition to soups, curries, sauces, desserts & more. Home › Forums › General Forums › Food, Hydration, and Nutrition › Coconut milk vs regular milk. By The Most Coconutty Coconut Milk: Trader Joe’s Organic Coconut Milk. Usually it's coconut milk & water, but the can costs the same. jlb, A quality can of coconut milk should have a fair amount of coconut cream at the top and not just look like murky, cloudy water, and you should always buy unsweetened. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Canned coconut milk is a key ingredient in many Asian dishes and can also be used for a variety of savory and sweet recipes like stews, curries, cakes, puddings and pies. You take the meat from the inside of a more mature, brown coconut and basically shred and purée it until it's cream-like in texture. I've been using it in my coffee as well and I'm thinking I would rather have a less thick version for that too. In both regular and light coconut milk most of the fat is highly saturated, so I … To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. If you 12 oz can of coconut milk is not sweetened, you can add 1/3 cup sugar to it - that's what I do in my macaroon recipe. It has been … Milk and milk alternatives. Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total) ... Download the Backpacking Light Handbook to help you make intelligent decisions about gear, skills, ultralight philosophy, and … Okay, like we mentioned before, the canned coconut milk you're probably used to buying is coconut meat—i.e., the white stuff inside a coconut—that has been mixed with some water and blended until smooth, sometimes with the addition of a stabilizer like guar gum. MILK REPLACEMENT: Our Reduced Fat Coconut Milk may replace dairy milk or cream in some of your favorite recipes with great results. While you may find regular coconut to be a beneficial addition to your recipes, the flavorful fluid has some nutritional drawbacks -- it's quite high in calories and fat. Calories, carbs, fat, protein, fiber, cholesterol, and more for Light Coconut Milk (Trader Joe's). Coconut milk has a smooth, creamy flavor, and generally does not have much of a coconut taste. From light, low-calorie replacements to rich, cream-based substitutions, you won't be able to taste the difference in your final recipe. Not too long ago, the only thing you could expect to drown your cereal in … It can add big flavor and richness to braised meats (like these chicken thighs or slow-roasted short ribs), a big pot of dal (made with lentils), or pretty much any soup or stew-y thing that wants a little something-something. So yeah: Coconut milk is a very good thing, as long as you get the right stuff. Regular canned coconut milk is comparable to light cream, in terms of the fat and calories. Coconut-Curry Braised Chicken Thighs, anyone? Its a simple way to save some calories and saturated fat in your recipes. 1) Is this correct, that "lite" coconut milk is simply the presence of more water? Coconut milk is made from a brew of coconut meat and water. © 2021 Condé Nast. Using lite coconut milk and full-fat interchangeably. When you crack open a can, there’s often a layer of solid white stuff at the top, which is what's known as "coconut cream," and is the richest part of the equation, containing more fat and protein than the milky-looking liquid it is sitting on top of. To be Replaced with: 1 cup … "[Coconut milk] is produced from the coconut meat, which is processed and taken out of the coconut and then filtered and liquefied," Gallego says. Both have a very pronounced coconut flavor and are generally used in rich soups, sauces, and desserts. Coconut milk, to review, is a non-dairy liquid made in the style of other nut-milks such as cashew or almond milk. But don't confuse it with lower-calorie coconut water. If so, can you just turn regular coconut milk into "lite" milk by adding water? Vegans who don’t like soy or rice milk might use it in any of these incarnations. ... 365, and Trader Joe’s Light Coconutmilk. Coconut milk adds richness and depth of flavor to soups, curries, and stews, and its natural fat content tames spices of all levels, turning down the heat while retaining the flavor. Coconut Cream So when we're talking about coconut milk, that's what we're normally talking about. When it comes to cooking, stick with the can. It is basically just shredded coconut flesh that is pureed with water and strained to create a rich, shock-white liquid that can lend body, flavor, and richness to soups, curries, wilted greens, and much more. Keep a can or two in your pantry and be ready for a flavorful dinner anytime—you’d be coconuts not to. 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