Fruity, creamy and slightly sweet, coconut has a similar taste to melted butter with a slight note of earthiness and nuttiness. From water to milk, coconut is versatile fruit that can be transformed into various foods.
We all know how delicious coconut is when eaten raw, but cooking with coconut can be difficult to execute.
What to eat with coconut? Coconut pairs the best with almonds, dark or white chocolate, cream, custards, tropical fruits, and vanilla.
Furthermore, coconut works best in baked goods and adds a rich flavor to sauces, stews, and stir-fries. Using the right form of coconut, add it into curry, desserts, soup, and stews, especially in Indian, Thai, Brazilian, and Caribbean cuisines.
A significant part of coconut’s appeal is in the chewy texture. The mouthfeel and milky, nutty taste makes adding it into dishes is easy, versatile and simple to use.
This article focuses on the flavors and foods to pair with coconut. Answered below are frequently asked questions about what goes well with shredded coconut to add in every dish.
What goes with coconut?
From fruit to spices in curries, coconut definitely represents a sweet, tropical, spicy, and savory flavor. However, it require right ingredient pairing for a cohesive flavor.
If you are looking for the best ingredients to create curry, stews, soups, or stir-fries, these ingredients should be on your next market run:
- Spices: allspice, cardamom, chili powder, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, curry powder
- Nuts: almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pistachios
- Fruits: apricots, bananas, blackberries, cherries, dates, dried figs, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, kumquats, lemon, lime, lychee, mangoes, orange, papaya, passion fruit, pineapple, strawberries
- Vegetables: cauliflower, chili peppers, cucumber, sweet potatoes
- Herbs: basil, cilantro, lemongrass, mint
- Legumes: green beans, lentils, oats
- Meat: beef, chicken, eggs, fish, lamb, salmon, shrimp, lobster
- Condiments: caramel, honey, sugar, vanilla, white wine vinegar, maple syrup
- Chocolate: dark, white
- Dairy: cream, ice cream, creme fraiche, mascarpone, milk, sour cream
- Liquors: dark rum
What do you eat shredded coconut with?
Have some leftover shredded coconut from baking over the weekend? No problem!
Whether sweetened or unsweetened, shredded coconut is the absolute jam. It can transform any savory or sweet dishes in an instant.
Freshly grated coconut tastes best on sticky rice or puddings like chia, vanilla, chocolate, or tapioca. It adds flavor to morning granola or oatmeal, keeping you energized throughout the day.
Sprinkle it on pancakes, yogurts, smoothies, fruit salads, or popcorn. Try sprinkling some shredded coconut on top for those whose kids hate porridge and watch the magic happen.
Also, shredded coconut will work in just about any baked goods, from cakes to biscuits, cookies, pies, and donuts.
What flavor goes with coconut?
The distinct tropical, sweet, and nutty flavor of coconut marries perfectly with multiple flavors.
These flavors include:
- Tropical: Strawberries, mango, and papayas brighten coconut curds, while coconut ice cream is perfect with banana fritters or grilled pineapples.
- Sweet: Coconut blends perfectly with maple syrup, chocolate, vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar for sweet applications.
- Spicy: Try curry, basil, chili pepper, coriander, lemongrass, turmeric, ginger, cumin, garlic, and curry powder to spice up the coconut-based dish.
- Savory: If you love things spicy, pair coconut with peanuts, almonds, shrimp, beef, pork, fish, tofu, and chickpeas.
These classic flavors are result of coconut. Here are the most popular flavor combinations to try with coconut:
- coconut + apricot + ginger + green tea + lemongrass + ice + vanilla
- coconut + honey + lime
- coconut + lemongrass + vanilla
- coconut + orange + vanilla
- coconut + beef + ginger
Eat with Coconut: Conclusion
With its mild flavor, coconut is a classic complement to many foods and flavors.
Its nutty, sweet taste makes it ideal for baked goods, soups, stews, and an excellent fruit pairing. Other than fruit, it also goes well with nuts, cream, chocolate, custard, and vanilla.
Due to its versatile flavors including tropical, sweet, savory, and spicy, it can be cooked in curry, desserts, soup, and stews including Indian, Thai, Brazilian, and Caribbean cuisines.
With shredded coconut, you can add into fun and exciting desserts like sticky rice or pudding. Additionally, granola and oatmeal are great additions for breakfast.
Don’t forget to garnish baked goods with shredded coconut. Cakes, biscuits, cookies, pies, and donuts will have extra creamy and crunchy texture as a result.
There’s no limit to what pairs best with coconut, so feel free to experiment. This list is just a scratch on the surface. So, since we can’t fly to the islands, let’s try these excellent coconut pairings instead!