Whether or not cooking candy or savory delicacies, easy or advanced curries or simply garnishing your meals, desiccated coconut is a extensively used ingredient.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a easy recipe to make desiccated coconut at dwelling, this one is for you. Not solely is it straightforward to make, additionally it is a cheaper and more healthy various to the ready-made desiccated coconut yow will discover in shops.
For this no-fail recipe, you want recent coconut nuts, a hammer, a grater, an oven, simply over one hour of your time, and slightly higher physique power.
As soon as made, you may retailer it for a very long time and use it at your comfort.
Completely different dehydrated types of coconut meat
Relying on the degrees of moisture/ fats retained ultimately product, you may have totally different sorts of dried coconut. Individuals typically use these phrases interchangeably, making it difficult to determine the recipe.
Shredded coconut
Normally, shredded coconut has barely longer strands of coconut, made utilizing the bigger facet of the grater. When dried, it nonetheless retains moisture and has a softer texture. Its shelf life is shorter than that of the desiccated coconut.
Desiccated coconut
Desiccated coconut is a plain toasted model of the finely shredded coconut flesh. The desiccated coconut could have smaller or bigger grated items relying on the choice. However it’s dried completely to get the specified texture and longevity.
Coconut flour
Coconut flour is a extremely processed coconut flesh meat sans fats content material. Therefore, keep away from utilizing it as an alternative to any dishes that decision for shredded/ desiccated coconut.
3 ways to separate coconut meat from the shell
Utilizing a knife/ spoon
Separating coconut flesh from the shell might be tough. Use a dinner knife or a spoon to take away the meat gently. Discover the gaps to stay the sting in to get out the guts. Watch out whereas dealing with the knife. If mishandled, you may critically damage your self.
Use the freezer technique
Put the coconut nuts into the freezer in a single day earlier than cracking them open. The subsequent day, use the hammer to open it. The frozen flesh will come proper off the shell.
Use the oven technique
After you have the 2 coconut halves, put them into an oven for quarter-hour at 80ºC/175ºF. The coconut flesh will separate from the shell simply.
3 ways to dry the grated coconut flesh
Use a pan
Put the grated coconut meat right into a thick-bottom extensive pan. Place it on the range on low warmth. Preserve stirring because the water evaporates, remodeling the creamy coconut right into a brittle texture. Don’t go away the coconut unattended.
Use a dehydrator
When you have a dehydrator, dry your shredded coconut utilizing it. Set the temperature at 40ºC/105ºF and dry until you get crumbly coconut. It takes a barely longer time, however the outcomes are constant. Additionally, there isn’t a threat of burning/browning.
Use an oven
Take a look at the recipe particulars under for dehydrating the grated coconut flesh utilizing the oven.
Recipe ideas
Use solely mature coconuts
Use solely mature brown coconuts for this recipe. Don’t use the younger, inexperienced, tender coconuts. Their flesh is just too tender to make desiccated coconut from it.
Don’t let your coconut burn
Use the really helpful oven setting to dry your grated coconut. Even when the drying takes a very long time, maintain the temperature the identical. Simply prolong the period.
Rising the oven temperature could result in the browning of the shredded coconut and will burn it too. Don’t neglect to toss the baking tray in between to make sure uniform drying.
Be sure that the coconut is dried correctly
When drying the coconut within the oven, make sure you do away with the moisture fully. If not dried correctly, then the coconut will spoil quicker.
Don’t neglect to peel
You might select to retain coconut pores and skin for some recipes. However for this desiccated coconut recipe, do peel the pores and skin off. This manner, you’ll get the proper white desiccated coconut.
Alternative ways to make use of desiccated coconut
Use it as an alternative to recent coconut
Discovering recent coconut in all components of the World is not possible. Therefore, make the desiccated coconut every time accessible and use it as an alternative to the recent one. Though it gained’t replicate recent coconut’s precise style, you may nonetheless use it.
Make wholesome coconut-dry fruit balls
Pulse dried figs, palm dates, cashews, almonds, and desiccated coconut in a meals processor collectively. As soon as the combination begins coming collectively, roll it into bite-size balls. They’re glorious snacks.
Use it as a garnish
You should use desiccated coconut so as to add texture to your dish. Add it to your breakfast bowls, smoothies, or sauteed veggies for a nutty coconut taste. You can too use it to roll candies or cupcakes.
Really helpful methods to retailer desiccated coconut
When dried appropriately, you may retailer desiccated coconut in an air-tight container at room temperature for as much as six months.
You can too retailer the desiccated coconut within the fridge or freezer for longer. Nonetheless, after thawing, it could possibly be moist.
I recommend storing it at room temperature.
FAQs
Is desiccated coconut keto weight-reduction plan pleasant?
Sure, you may adapt desiccated coconut to virtually any weight-reduction plan, together with keto, vegan, gluten-free, low-carb, grain-free, and nut-free. It’s a excellent allergen-safe ingredient.
What’s the easiest way to crack the coconut shell?
The hammer works finest. Watch out with the hammer, and be conscious of the place your hand is.
You possibly can additionally pierce one of many three eyes of the coconut shells utilizing a screwdriver to empty the liquid inside. Then, you may put the coconut in a bag and take it exterior to bang it in opposition to an edge- like a concrete step. There could also be extra subtle methods, however this easy hack works.
What are the well being advantages of desiccated coconut?
You may take pleasure in all the advantages of recent coconut in its desiccated kind. Coconut is wealthy in dietary fibers, selenium, manganese, and copper. Though it has no ldl cholesterol, it has excessive saturated fat so it’s finest to keep away from extra consumption.
Desiccated Coconut (Make Shredded Coconut at Residence)
It is a fool-proof recipe for making desiccated coconut from recent coconut flesh. Use it so as to add texture and nutty coconut taste to your dishes.
Servings: 2
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 140F/60C and line a big baking sheet with parchment paper.
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To open the nuts, use a hammer and hit firmly alongside the center of the nut, twisting it as you hit. Crack the nuts open over a big bowl or a sink, as some coconut water would possibly gush out.
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Use a spoon or a knife to take away some items of the coconut meat from the shell – when you take away a bit, the remainder will come out simply.
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Refrigerating the entire nuts in a single day would possibly ease the prying out of the coconut meat.
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Use a vegetable peeler to take away the brown pores and skin from the pulp, then rinse to take away any brown leftovers, pat dry, and switch right into a bowl.
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In response to your preferences, use the bigger or smaller facet of a grater to grate the coconut meat. Alternatively, you may chop the meat into small chunks, place it in a meals processor, and pulse it till it reaches the specified dimension.
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Place the coconut onto the baking sheet and organize it in a single layer.
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Bake for half-hour, toss and organize again right into a single layer, then bake for 10 to 30 extra minutes till dried (the smaller grated coconut will dry simpler than the bigger one).
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Take away from the oven and let cool fully.
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Switch into an hermetic jar and maintain at room temperature for as much as six months.
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