Coconut milk or coconut cream?
A can of coconut milk, a carton of coconut cream or perhaps a block of creamed coconut? After reading this article, you’ll never again have to wonder which of the three (in your eyes, exactly the same) products to choose. We’ll explain the differences. Spoiler: they really do exist.
The differences between coconut milk and coconut cream
Coconut cream
Coconut cream is made from the flesh of a coconut. This is grated and then mixed with warm water. Usually, that’s simply water, but sometimes it’s coconut water, which you find inside the coconut. By filtering the mixture through a cloth or sieve and then squeezing it out well, you get coconut cream. It is thick and rich, and has a relatively high fat percentage.
If you dilute coconut cream with water, you can use it in exactly the same way as coconut milk. But precisely because of its somewhat thicker texture, you can also whip it into a delicious whipped cream—a dairy-free version. Or make frosting with it. Perfect in and on desserts!
Coconut milk
You only get the milk when you mix the grated coconut with water for a second time and then squeeze it out. It is thinner and more watery, and somewhat less creamy.
You may sometimes use coconut milk in a Thai curry, but the can is incredibly versatile. When buying coconut milk, pay attention to how thick it is. On the packaging, you can determine its thickness from the percentage of coconut extract listed—the higher the percentage, the thicker the milk. In the supermarket, also look for coconut milk with only coconut extract and water on the ingredients list. We don’t need sweetened milk, and if we do want that, we can sweeten it ourselves.
Creamed coconut
Creamed coconut is also known as santen. It consists of blocks of concentrated coconut milk, which are widely used in Indonesian cuisine. You can dilute the blocks with warm water to make coconut milk. The difference in taste isn’t very significant, but you can taste it. The cream often gives your dish a slightly more intense flavor. Definitely worth trying.
Also read:
- This is how you stock your Indonesian pantry
- Toasted coconut cake
- Braised chicken in spicy coconut milk
