Coconut Milk Substitute

Coconut milk is misunderstood many times as the juice inside a coconut. But actually coconut milk is the creamy white milk extracted from the thick white flesh that is all around the inner wall of a completely ripe coconut. You can make coconut milk at home or buy canned or bottled coconut milk. Make sure you refrigerate the coconut milk if not in use.

Coconut milk is used as a base for cooking many food recipes. Its use is most commonly in South and Southeast Asian cuisines, especially in authentic Thai food recipes. It is also popularly used in West Africa, Hawaii and in the cuisines of West Indies. What is the substitute for coconut milk? Yes, let us move on to know about the alternatives for coconut milk.

Best Coconut Milk Substitutes

Coconut Milk Substitute #1
Canned coconut cream is easily available in grocery shops. You can use 3 tbsp. of canned cream of coconut and add hot water to it. This is a perfect coconut milk substitution. It will replace one cup of coconut milk.

Coconut Milk Substitute #2
Another best substitute for coconut milk is using low fat milk. Take one cup warm low fat milk and add 3 tbsp of canned cream of coconut. Mix well to form an instant substitute for 1 cup of coconut milk.

Coconut Milk Substitute #3
Using the coconut juice or coconut water is a great option for coconut milk. It will best retain the taste of coconut milk in the recipe. To get that similar coconut flavor in your recipe use equal amount of coconut juice, same as the amount of coconut milk which you were going to use. You can get fresh coconut juice from a coconut or buy it from a store as well.

Coconut Milk Substitute #4
Another substitute to coconut milk is using unsweetened soy milk. Here is a small recipe that you can use the product as a substitute for coconut milk. Take half cup plain soy milk and add one tsp artificial coconut flavor. Add a bit of sweetener and little cornstarch for thickening purpose. The substitute is ready. If you use vanilla, sweet rice milk or sweet soy milk, then do not use a sweetener.

Coconut Milk Substitute #5
Another substitute for coconut milk is, using one cup of whole milk and adding one tsp. of coconut extract to it. This will replace one cup of coconut milk. Evaporated milk is also known to be one of the best coconut milk substitute. Mix ¼ cup of evaporated milk with ¾ cup of water and use as a substitute for coconut milk. This substitute works best in chicken curry recipes. Read more on coconut milk recipes.

Coconut Milk Substitute #6
Yogurt can also be used as a substitute for coconut milk. To make, use one cup yogurt and add 1 tsp. coconut extract to it and mix well. You can also use one cup evaporated skim milk instead of yogurt and add 1 tsp. coconut extract to it. Both yogurt and evaporated skin milk will give a thick consistency to the recipe. Use these in same amount as coconut milk is to be used.

Coconut Milk Substitute #7
You can mix one part powdered coconut cream and add four parts hot milk to it to form mixture that can substitute coconut milk. Instead of milk you can opt for the following. Mix one part powdered coconut cream and add four parts of hot water, stir well and use in the recipe.

With so many health benefits of coconut milk like anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, would you really want to have a substitute? Moreover coconut milk nutrition value is also very high. However, sometimes you might have to replace it. So in such cases, opt for one of the above mentioned coconut milk substitutes and have that recipe ready without making a compromise.