25 Delicious Recipes That Start with a Can of Coconut Milk

January 22, 2020

Canned coconut milk is extremely versatile, so we rarely leave the supermarket without it. It helps balance out spiciness in savory dishes and adds creamy richness to our favorite sweet treats. Check out our favorite ways to use a can of coconut milk for whatever you're craving. 

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1 of 25

Jerk Chicken with Coconut Rice & Peas

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Add some flavor of the Caribbean to your weeknight dinners with this healthy and easy jerk chicken recipe. The chicken is cooked on a grill pan rather than an outdoor grill--make sure the pan is well heated before adding the chicken to achieve the crisp char you would get from an outdoor grill. A simple side of coconut rice and peas completes this satisfying and nutritious meal.

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Thai Tofu & Vegetable Curry with Zucchini Noodles

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For this quick Thai curry recipe, we've combined tofu and plenty of veggies with a flavorful sauce made with red curry paste, lime juice and coconut milk. Serve the curry over lightly warmed zucchini noodles to get even more veggies in your weeknight dinner. Bonus: Everything is cooked in one skillet, so there's only one pan to wash after dinner.

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Virgin Banana Piña Colada Pops

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The tropical flavors of a piña colada make for one delicious ice pop. Be sure to reach for ripe bananas to get the perfect sweetness (without any added sugar!) for this clean-eating-friendly frozen treat.

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Slow-Cooker Creamy Lentil Soup Freezer Pack

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Prep the ingredients for this soup months in advance for a total hands-off meal that's ready when you are. Vegetarian lentils and vegan coconut milk make this soup creamy and pack in plenty of plant-based protein and a hearty amount of fiber. To keep it vegan, opt for vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

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Thai Yellow Chicken Thigh Curry

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Yellow curry paste is generally spicier than green but not as spicy as red, making it just right for this easy stir-fried chicken thigh recipe. Sizzling the curry paste in oil before making the curry gives it a boost in complexity. 

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Coconut-Butter Mochi Cake with Lime Curd

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Mochi (made from glutinous sweet rice flour) is a pillow-like dough that the Japanese fashion into all kinds of confections. In Hawaii it's made into this simple, rich cake with the addition of eggs. We love it with this zesty lime curd topping for an extra-special dessert. Recipe adapted from Chef Greg Harrison, Pacific'O Restaurant.

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Slow-Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup

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Skip the roasting in this butternut squash soup recipe and let your slow cooker do the work instead. Just load up all the ingredients into the crock pot, set it and forget it for an easy, healthy dinner or packable lunches.

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Vegan Coconut Yogurt

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Are you eating plant-based but missing good-for-you, probiotic-rich yogurt? This vegan coconut yogurt made from coconut milk is entirely vegan and just as creamy and delicious as dairy yogurt. Use it in place of traditional yogurt in recipes, add it to a smoothie or layer it into a fruit parfait.

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Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup

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In this healthy cauliflower soup recipe, roasting the cauliflower first adds depth and prevents the florets from turning to mush. A little tomato sauce and coconut milk give the broth a rich, silky texture. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.

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Curried Chickpea Stew

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Who says a meatless meal isn't filling? Packed with fiber-rich vegetables and chickpeas, this fragrant stew satisfies.

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Thai Coconut Curry Soup

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This healthy version of tom kha soup is vegetarian and flavored with Thai red curry paste. Instead of using fish sauce, we simmer dried shiitakes in vegetable broth to add an umami note.

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Mango Piña Colada Smoothie

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Mango adds sweet flair to the traditional piña colada flavors of pineapple and coconut in this healthy fruit smoothie recipe that will have you feeling like you're on the beach.

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Singapore-Style Chicken & Noodle Soup

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In this healthy curry laksa, a popular Southeast Asian noodle soup, chicken, coconut milk, tomatoes and tons of warm spices make this a flavorful favorite. While there are a lot of ingredients, the leftover soup is even better the next day for lunch.

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Creamy Chocolate Gelato

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This ultra-chocolaty, dairy-free Sicilian-style gelato--made without eggs or cream--is relatively lean but still creamy-smooth and flavorful. The coconut milk used for the base gives it a silky, rich mouthfeel and a subtle coconut flavor.

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Super-Green Thai Curry

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This easy Thai green curry is loaded with vegetables and gets tons of flavor from prepared curry paste and coconut milk. Broiling the vegetables gives them a smoky char that brings more depth to this noodle soup. If it's too hot to even think about turning on the oven, grill them for the same effect. This healthy dinner also happens to be vegan and gluten-free.

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Coconut Whipped Cream

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Coconut whipped cream, also known as vegan whipped cream, is the perfect topping for any dairy-free or vegan dessert. It's light, creamy and entirely plant-based. Like regular whipped cream, you can also add flavoring--citrus zest, espresso powder or a different extract--to this basic recipe to customize the flavor. Refrigerating the can of coconut milk or cream overnight allows the fat/cream to separate from the liquid and solidify. 

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Slow-Cooker Flounder with Thai Coconut-Curry Sauce

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This dish boasts delicate, flaky flounder and a sweet, fragrant curry made with rich coconut milk, tender sweet potatoes and brown rice. The flounder--which can be substituted with tilapia, if desired--cooks well on top of the curry. Adding the flounder to the slow cooker for the last 20 minutes allows it to steam without overcooking. For the prettiest appearance, substitute whole fresh basil leaves for the sliced basil. To save prep time, purchase a package of prepeeled, prechopped sweet potatoes, and use 14 ounces from it.

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Tropical Coconut Custard

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A classic sweet custard flavored with coconut, ginger, and vanilla is served in individual cups and topped with pretty slices of star fruit.

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Chicken & Vegetables with Creamy Coconut Noodles

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Teach your kids about the power of aromatic compounds with this recipe: Adding coconut milk to the broth not only adds subtle coconut flavor, but the fat in the liquid also helps the ginger, lemongrass and basil "bloom," releasing even more tastiness

20 of 25

Vegan Carrot Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting

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Classic carrot cake goes vegan in this easy recipe, and gets covered with coconut whipped cream to replace the traditional cream cheese frosting. A mixture of flax and water makes a sturdy substitute for eggs in this vegan cake. Plus, sweet crushed pineapple helps to make this cake delicious with less added sugar. 

21 of 25

Squash & Red Lentil Curry

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This healthy red lentil curry recipe has a rich flavor and complexity that tastes like it takes hours to prepare. Butternut squash and coconut milk combine with the lentils to make a hearty vegetarian dish. Serve with brown rice or naan bread. 

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Iced Coconut Latte Pops

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When you don't have time to make ice coffee, grab a latte popsicle from the freezer and keep your cool. 

23 of 25

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

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Thai spices and creamy coconut milk distinguish this version from traditional butternut squash soup. Curry paste is a convenient way to add complex flavor, but if you want to make sure this soup is vegan or if you are allergic to shellfish, check the ingredient list carefully--some brands contain shellfish.

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Delicata Squash & Tofu Curry

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This easy tofu curry, made with pretty delicata squash and hearty greens, cooks up in one skillet. To speed up the prep, use bagged chopped kale. Delicata squash's thin skin is tender when it's cooked, so there's no need to peel--another time saver. Serve with quinoa or brown rice.

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Banana-Coconut Bread

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A unique take on banana bread, this recipe introduces the banana-coconut flavor combination. This creative, diabetic-friendly recipe is the perfect solution for using over-ripe bananas and is easy to make.

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