Go Back
–+ servings
Enjoying a refreshing glass of coconut milk made from fresh coconut.
Print

Homemade Coconut Milk

Creamy, white, and non-dairy milk made from fresh coconut or coconut flakes. A great DIY solution for soups, stews, curries, smoothies, and baked goods. Fresh, rich, and exceptionally versatile!
Makes about 2 cups
Course Breakfast, How To
Cuisine African
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan
Prep Time 10 minutes
Soaking Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 390kcal
Author Imma

Equipment

  • 1 Blender  
  • cheesecloth or a nut bag

Ingredients

Fresh Coconut

  • 1 coconut (use more coconuts for more milk)
  • 1½-2 cups (350-470ml) water (see notes)

Coconut Flakes

  • 2 cups (120g) coconut flakes (see notes)
  • 4 cups (940ml) hot water

Instructions

Fresh Coconut

  • Hit the middle of a coconut hard with the blunt side of a cleaver or hammer, just enough to crack it. Drain the water for later. Rotate the coconut, continuing to hit it at the center with the hammer or cleaver. It will eventually split in half at the center.
  • Place it in a 350℉ (180℃) oven for about 10 minutes to facilitate the removal of the flesh from the shell. Let it cool. Remove the coconut from the shell with a sturdy spoon.
  • Using a sharp knife or a potato peeler, peel the skin off the coconut, or you can chop it without peeling.

Coconut Flakes

  • Soak the coconut flakes in hot water for 2-4 hours (the ratio of coconut to water is one cup of coconut flakes and two cups of water).
  • Blend coconut in a blender (a Blendtec or Vitamix does a better job) on high until smooth.
  • Strain the coconut mixture with a cheesecloth or nut bag. Squeeze really tight to extract all the milk. Save the milk and use the pulp as you would coconut flour.

Notes

  • Start with less water and add more for the desired consistency. You can always add more, but you can't take it back out.
  • Dessicated coconut sometimes has a lower fat content and may result in less flavorful milk. Coconut flakes tend to be less processed for a richer flavor.
  • Use hot water to soften the fat in coconut flakes for easier blending.
  • Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary considerably based on the ingredients used.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 34g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 321mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 2mg