Coconut shavings. how to make coconut flakes from fresh coconut how to make your own coconut flakes

coconut flakes- an ingredient quite often used in the preparation of desserts. Shavings can be bought at any store, this product is not in short supply. But some manufacturers try to cheat by replacing the pulp of the coconut with sugar beets and adding flavoring to get the right smell, others soak the grated coconut in water and wash it repeatedly, while getting coconut milk. But there is nothing easier than making coconut flakes yourself by buying a coconut in a store. In addition, in addition you will receive 100-150 ml. delicious coconut milk that you can drink or use in other dishes.

One medium-sized coconut will make about 150 g of coconut flakes. Well-dried shavings can be stored for a long time in a dry clean glassware and used as needed. If desired, it can be tinted by adding a few drops of food coloring of the desired color.

Ingredients:

• 1 coconut

Cooking:

1. Wash and dry the coconut. It should be firm, brown in color, free of mold and white bloom.

2. On one of the poles of each nut there are three small indentations. Their shells are thin enough to be easily pierced. You can do this with an ordinary knife, then pour coconut milk into a glass through the hole or insert a tube and drink the fragrant sweet liquid directly from the coconut.

3. Then take the coconut in your hands and start tapping on it with the back of the knife, you need to do this over the entire surface so that the coconut pulp separates from the shell. Approximately in the middle of the nut, its “equator” passes, along which it is most convenient to split the coconut. To do this, you need to apply stronger blows to the equator until the coconut splits into two parts.

4. Using a knife, remove the fragrant pulp from the shell. On one side there will be a brown crust that needs to be cut off.

5. Grate the white part on a beetroot grater.

6. Pour a thin layer on parchment paper and leave in a well-ventilated area for a day. It needs to be stirred periodically. The second, faster option is to leave the baking sheet with the coconut flakes in the cooling oven, while keeping a close eye on and stirring so that the flakes do not burn.

7. Fragrant tender coconut flakes from coconut at home are ready to eat, it can be used in the preparation of various desserts.

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After opening the nuts and removing the coconut juice, the white flesh is kneaded and dried, and then crushed. The properties of the obtained dry product practically do not differ from the properties of fresh coconut pulp. At the same time, the calorie content of the chips is much higher.

The main purpose of this product is the use in cooking. In addition to adding to sweet dishes, shavings can be used in salads, meat dishes, side dishes. This diversifies the diet by adding original and non-standard food to it.

Varieties

Depending on the particle size of the chips, the following grades are distinguished:

• coarse - the least valuable chips, since they are coarsely ground;
• medium - a type of chips, which is medium pounded;
• fine - the highest quality variety, represented by finely ground chips, in which there is a large amount of fat.

The leaders in the production of coconut chips are Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as the Philippines and Indonesia.

Beneficial features

Coconut shavings:

• it has a porous structure and a large amount of dietary fiber, thanks to which it cleanses the intestines well and improves digestion;
• rich in useful nutrients - vitamins B, E, C, iron, calcium, fructose, potassium, sucrose, essential fatty acids (in particular, lauric acid, which can normalize cholesterol levels, which reduces the risk of atherosclerosis);
• recommended for earache, impaired vision, viral and fungal infections, urological diseases, reduced immunity;
• effective as a home remedy for worms (can be used even in children at a dose of 1 teaspoon before meals).

Harm

Coconut flakes can only be harmful to people who cannot tolerate coconut fruit. Also, do not get involved in chips for people with allergic reactions. If you do not have allergies and tolerate coconut well, you can use shavings without fear.

How to choose and where to buy

Coconut flakes can be found in almost any grocery store. It is best to purchase shavings in a transparent package, because this will allow you to have a good look at the purchase.

Coconut flakes may be the pomace of the coconut meat left after the coconut oil has been extracted. This pomace is dry, which can affect the result of its use. Pay attention to the type of coconut written on the package (we wrote about this above).

You will see on sale not only white, but also shavings of different colors. However, think carefully about whether you should treat yourself to a dessert with bright shavings, since dyes for its production are mainly used artificial.

In health food stores, you can see organic coconut flakes, then you will be completely sure of the quality and usefulness of the purchased flakes.

Also in such stores they sell shavings, the fat content of which is reduced, which is convenient for people who monitor their diet and try to avoid excess fat in the diet.

How to DIY

Coconut shavings are quite possible to cook at home.

Steps for making coconut flakes at home:

• Choosing a good coconut - quality and ripe.
• Removing coconut juice.
• Cleaning from the outer cover and extracting the pulp.
• Rubbing the pulp.
• Dry or use.

You can buy a nut at any time of the year, but the most worthy fruits appear on sale from October to December. Choose a hard fruit that does not have cracks, streaks, or mold. Also carefully inspect the "eyes" (closed holes on the fruit), making sure that they are not wet. Be sure to shake the nut - in a fresh coconut, the juice will gurgle and overflow.

The next step is to drain the coconut juice. Juice can be drunk or drained by making a hole in any "eye" of the nut and inserting a tube there. To remove the top layer of the fruit, tap the coconut with a mallet and discard any parts of the shell that have peeled off. You can also cut the nut using a metal saw, after which it will be very easy to extract the pulp from the resulting halves.

After splitting the nut and getting its snow-white pulp, take an ordinary vegetable grater and any container.

Rub the pieces of pulp smoothly, slowly and carefully, then the structure of the future chips will be homogeneous. You can also use a combine if it has a suitable attachment.

The finished chips can be used immediately or dried a little. You can also mix the resulting chips with vanilla sugar.

Application

The main industry of coconut flakes is confectionery:

• Coconut pulp chips are added inside rolls, cakes, cakes, as a delicious aromatic filling.
• It is used for decorating and sprinkling ready-made delicacies. It can be seen on sweets, icing, muesli, chocolate, bars, curd cheese and other sweets.
• The product is also used in the preparation of savory dishes, such as meat.
• Coconut pulp is especially in demand in Asian cooking. Coconut chips mixed with chili pepper (ground) are a very spicy seasoning for both dessert and savory dishes.

Recipes

Apple pie

You need:

• kilogram of apples;
• one glass of flour, coconut and sugar;
• 200 grams of butter;
• 4 eggs;
• chayn. a spoonful of soda;
• 3 teaspoons spoons of lemon juice;
• 50 grams of powdered sugar.

After mixing butter, eggs, sugar and lemon juice, add flour, 3/4 cup wood chips and baking soda. Grate 100 grams of apples, add to the dough, then knead it well and put it in a mold. Arrange sliced ​​apples on top of dough. Put in the oven for 45 minutes, and a few minutes before the end of baking, sprinkle the cake with 1/4 of the chips that you have left, as well as powdered sugar.

Butter Cookies

Beat two eggs and 100 grams of sugar, add 200 grams of coconut and mix. Pour 100 grams of wheat flour, a little baking powder into the mass and, after kneading, put in the refrigerator for half an hour. Wet your hands with water and form cookies to bake for about 15 minutes.

Melt 200 grams of white chocolate and 200 grams of butter with constant stirring over low heat. Add 400 grams of condensed milk to the melted ingredients, stir and add 70 grams of coconut flakes. The resulting cream should be kept in the refrigerator for several hours in a glass container. With this cream, you can lubricate cakes, pastries and even just slices of bread.

meringue cookies

You need:

• 100 grams of white coconut;
• 100 grams of sugar;
• 1 protein.

Mix sugar and coconut flakes in a bowl. Add the protein and, after mixing, spread the future cookies with a spoon on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. Bake for about 7 minutes.

For cooking you need:

• 200 g coconut chips;
• 70 g of powdered sugar;
• 100 ml cream;
• 70 g butter;
• milk chocolate (about 200 g).

Mix coconut and powder in a bowl, pour this mixture into a saucepan with warmed butter and cream. Having made small balls from the resulting mass, hold them for one hour in the refrigerator. After melting the chocolate, dip the coconut balls into it (use toothpicks), then put the candies in the refrigerator for the whole night.

Mix in one container 0.75 cups of sugar, a glass of kefir, one egg, one and a half cups of flour and baking powder (10 grams). Pour the resulting dough into a mold, and evenly distribute the filling on top, represented by a mixture of 0.75 cups of sugar, a little vanilla and 100 grams of coconut flakes. Bake for about half an hour, and so that the chips do not burn, 10 minutes after putting the cake in the oven, cover it with foil.

Storage

Keep the coconut flakes in a cool, dry and odor-free area. Purchased unopened packaging can be stored for up to 12 months. Do-it-yourself shavings are recommended to be used immediately, or, after drying a little, store in the refrigerator.

You can learn more about the benefits of coconut by watching the following video.

Coconut flakes: where to use, except for cooking? What harm does it bring to human health? The most popular manufacturers of coconut flakes.

properties of coconut. Calories and analysis of the composition

• Contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins
• Removes toxic substances from the body
• Reducing the risk of cancer
• Has antiviral and antibacterial effect
• Concentrates attention
• Improves vision and memory
• lowering cholesterol

• Vitamins of groups B, C, E
• Calcium
• Iron
• Fatty acid

What is useful coconut flakes for the body and is there any harm

• Improves bowel function due to fibrous structure
• Strengthening the immune system
• Normalization of metabolism

How can shavings be used

• Decoration of ice cream, confectionery, cold and hot dishes
• Add to sauces and dressings
• As one of the cooking ingredients

Advice! If you add coconut flakes to the oil and fry shrimp in this, then with such a dish you can slay all the guests on the spot.

Proper storage conditions

Rating of the best manufacturers of coconut flakes

• VILACONIC GROUP. This company has established itself in many countries around the world. However, this product cannot be found in the public domain. It will take time to order and wait for the parcel
• COM DUA NAOSAY. The most popular shavings among Russian confectioners. It is also impossible to find on store shelves.
• Russian producers of coconut flakes
• ROYAL FOREST. The most natural product. Large, with a pronounced taste. Reviews about this manufacturer are entirely positive
• Parfait Decor. One of the budget shavings, often found in grocery stores
• Seasoning The cheapest, but popular among many others

Important! Experts advise against buying colored coconut flakes. It is best to purchase white and paint it yourself in the desired color.

How to make coconut flakes at home

• There are three small indentations on one side of the coconut. One of them must be pierced with a knife and poured into a glass of juice
• With the help of a small hammer, you need to tap the nut to separate the pulp from the peel. The blows don't have to be hard. You need to tap long and hard
• When cracks and chips appear on the peel, you can separate it from the pulp with a knife. If tapping was correct, separation will be easy.
• Use a knife to remove the gray film from the pulp of the coconut.
• Cut the pulp into small pieces and grate on a fine grater. Or you can grind the pulp in a food processor, this method will take much less time.
• The crushed pulp must be dried for a couple of hours in a thin layer on a towel or sent to a warm oven for several minutes

How to paint shavings: give a beautiful color

Coconut production technology: video

Widespread in East Asian cuisine, coconut milk has conquered Europe with its delicate delicate taste: it is used to prepare sauces for both spicy and sweet dishes, cook exotic soups and make fruit cocktails.

There are very interesting and delicious African, Indian and Brazilian dishes, which include coconut milk, butter or coconut flakes. You can buy these coconut goodies at the store, but you can make your own coconut milk, coconut oil, and fresh coconut flakes at home.

Coconut milk is best prepared from fresh coconut, heavier. When choosing a coconut, you need to weigh it in the palm of your hand, and then shake it to check for the presence of coconut water in it. Make sure that the 3 "eyes" of the coconut are always closed when buying. The shelf life of opened coconut is 1-2 days (in the refrigerator). You can store the flesh of a fresh coconut by filling it with water in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The shelf life of cooked coconut milk is 24 hours in the refrigerator.

How to split a coconut at home

You will need:

1 coconut
boiling water (as needed)

Roll up a kitchen towel, place it over the drain hole of the sink and set the coconut in it (or place it in a coffee can or other container). Using a screwdriver and hammer, pierce the dark indentations (“eyes”) on the top of the coconut. Flip the coconut over the bowl to let the juice run out. Try juice. It should be sweet, with a pleasant smell. A sour taste indicates that the nut is spoiled. Throw it away.

The shell needs to be broken. To do this, mark a line around the circumference, usually with a hatchet for beating meat or a knife, then smash the coconut wrapped in a towel with a hammer, trying to beat along the marked line. With this method of breaking a nut, two even halves are obtained.There is a natural fracture line in the center of the coconut, if you find it, you can split the coconut with a few movements of the knife.

Separate the pulp from the shell, cut off the brown shell with a knife. You can place the coconut for 10-15 minutes in an oven preheated to 200 C, it will become softer and easier to peel.Grate white pulp on a coarse grater or can be chopped in a processor.

You can not remove the thin brown shell, but then the milk turns out with a grayish tint, and you just throw out the coconut flakes, you can no longer use it ...

Cooking coconut milk

Coconut milk is a thick liquid that is made by soaking coconut meat in water. Such milk is great option for flavoring fruit drinks. Using this technology, it is possible to prepare vegetable milk from other types of nuts: walnuts, almonds, etc.

To prepare milk, pour the grated chips with boiling water so as to just cover it. Mix well and leave for 30 minutes. The chips should swell and absorb most of the water.
After that, discard the chips with water on a cotton napkin.
Very carefully squeeze out all the liquid (milk with butter) into a separate bowl.

Coconut milk usually separates into 2 layers (2 phases) during storage. The top layer is denser and thicker, oily and the second one is liquid. The more ripe the coconut, the thicker and fatter the top layer, the more oil it contains. Both layers are mixed and go to the preparation of culinary products. The remaining shavings from the pomace can be dried in the oven at a low temperature and used for making desserts, pastries, etc.
The approximate yield of the product is 200 ml of milk from 1/2 medium-sized coconut.

Coconut milk pairs well with fruits that have their own distinct flavor, such as papaya or bananas. A mixture of coconut milk with pineapple, lemon or lime juice is very tasty.

The use of this product in cooking is very variable: coconut milk goes well with many dishes. It is loved and appreciated for its versatility: it can soften even the most spicy dish and add a rich sweet flavor to any dessert treat. Based on coconut milk, it is realistic to prepare dozens of different sauces for meat, seafood, fish and sweet delicacies. For these purposes, thick milk is often used. In desserts, it replaces not only cream, but also plain milk and flour with butter, which are usually added for tenderness and refinement of taste. Liquid coconut milk is used in many soups (in France, for example, coconut soup with shrimp is popular) and cocktails (more often in fruit and non-alcoholic ones). It is also used in salads and second courses.

Benefits of coconut milk

Coconut milk contains a lot of vegetable fats, protein and oil. It is rich in vitamins C and B group, as well as manganese and iron. This relatively low-calorie product is useful for chronic fatigue, loss of strength and beriberi. Regular consumption of coconut milk, as Indian experts have found, has a beneficial effect on cardiac activity.
Since ancient times, coconut has been known as a natural aphrodisiac, stimulating the production of hormones and reducing the risk of impotence in men. One of the most important benefits of coconut is the positive effects on the function of our cardiovascular system. In particular, eating coconut helps restore blood quality and normalize blood circulation, lower blood cholesterol levels, prevent atherosclerosis and various heart diseases, and so on.

Coconut products, such as milk and oil, have excellent cleansing effects, and the fats they contain stimulate metabolism and restore the functions of vital organs and systems in the human body.

Cooking coconut oil

Coconut milk is 40% coconut oil, which is the most valuable dietary product. Its main asset is the unique lauric acid, which, in addition to coconut, is also found in palm oil and women's breast milk. Lauric acid helps protect the body from infections and viruses.

To prepare coconut oil, cut the flesh of the coconut into large pieces and chop in a blender or grate. Then transfer the grated pulp into a deep bowl. Bring water (about two and a half cups) to a boil. Let the water cool down a bit and pour over the grated coconut (not boiling water) and leave until the water cools completely, stirring the resulting mass from time to time.

When the water has cooled, cover the bowl with a lid and place it in the refrigerator for ten hours. After this time, remove the lid from the bowl. A thick crust of coconut oil formed on the surface of the bowl. It must be collected all, put into a mold and melted in a water bath. If there are pieces of coconut flakes in the oil, the oil itself can be filtered.

Put the mold with pure butter back in the refrigerator. This oil can be stored for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

Coconut oil excellent for skin care when visiting solariums, makes the tan even and the skin velvety.
Coconut oil It has a high content of lauric fatty acids and triglycerides. This property ensures good absorption. coconut oil into the skin. When applied to the skin Coconut oil melts and absorbs quickly, leaving the skin smooth and velvety.
Great fit Coconut oil for skin care and prevention of stretch marks during pregnancy.
Coconut oil prevents the formation of small cracks on the skin of the hands and on the heels.

Preparing coconut flakes

The squeezed chips left after receiving coconut milk can also be used in cooking, and if it is planned to be stored, it must be dried in the oven at a low temperature (50 degrees).

The chips are much more fragrant and tastier than those bought in the store. If you need chips to decorate confectionery, then it is better to grind the coconut pulp not in the processor, but to grate it.

Coconut flesh can be thinly sliced ​​with a Berner grater or vegetable peeler, dried in the oven to make coconut chips.

Coconut cosmetics

It is also believed that coconut milk, taken both internally and externally - in the form of masks and lotions - improves the color and condition of the skin and hair. Bathing in coconut milk was practiced, according to legend, by the Queen of Sheba.

Coconut is considered a strong aphrodisiac that improves reproductive function, and coconut oil, obtained by cold pressing from dried pulp, promotes rejuvenation.

It is recommended to apply it on the body before going to the beach - it not only protects the skin from harmful UV rays, but also perfectly evens out the tan. Coconut milk perfectly nourishes the skin, saturates it with valuable vitamins and proteins, makes it velvety and soft.Moreover, with the help of this tool you can take care of both the skin and face, as well as hands or body.Coconut milk perfectly moisturizes the skin of the face and body.It creates a delicate protective shell on the skin and protects it from drying out.When using cosmetic products with coconut extracts, an excellent tonic and stimulating effect on the skin is felt, skin elasticity and firmness are restored, wrinkles are smoothed out, and acne rashes disappear and minor physical damage to the skin heals faster.

Coconut milk is also able to strengthen weakened hair, making it lush and silky.

Coconut Nourishing Mask Recipe which is good for dry and aging skin: To start, mix 1 tablespoon of oatmeal with 1 teaspoon of honey. Then dilute the mixture with natural coconut milk so that you get a mass similar to sour cream. Apply it on your face and wash off with lukewarm water after 10 minutes.

For dry skin. Mix two tablespoons of coconut milk with three tablespoons of cream. Such a mixture is quite enough for application to the face and décolleté.

Important!!! With all their useful properties, coconut quite allergic, so not suitable for food for all people.

Photo: Shredded coconut using a special machine from Sri Lanka (click to enlarge)

Coconut is a popular product that we have been using for years. In European countries, shavings are widely used in confectionery. Basically, shavings are added to pastries, desserts, creams, used as a decoration for culinary masterpieces. In those countries where these useful fruits grow, the locals use coconut pulp daily. Coconut pulp, coconut milk, coconut cream are made from the pulp of a coconut.
Today we will talk about how to make shavings from coconut pulp.

Coconut pulp. How to use coconut pulp. Benefits of coconut meat.

Coconut is the second bread in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries where coconut palms are scattered on the coasts. It is the natives of the East who share with us traditional recipes for dishes from coconut pulp. In fact, there are quite a few dishes with coconut pulp, including first and second courses, salads, snacks, sweets and much more with the addition of shavings.

Coconut flesh is rich in fats, vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates, and at the same time, the chips have a very high calorie content. Coconut pulp is an excellent scrub for the intestines, capable of removing toxins and waste from the body. The use of shavings normalizes cardiovascular system, strengthens the general state of health, increases immunity. Therefore, unconditionally, coconut is invaluable to humans.

How to make coconut flakes.

Coconut flakes are formed by processing and crushing coconut meat. After the coconut is peeled, it should be split. I have detailed it in another article. Now we have coconut halves in our hands, which means we can start getting coconut pulp from it.




Photo: This is what the freshest coconut looks like (click to enlarge)

In Sri Lanka, every housewife has a special device with which coconut flakes are quickly and easily obtained. We have not seen these for sale, maybe you will be lucky to find them. I was lucky enough to buy it in a supermarket in the Sri Lankan city of Weligama.
It looks like a machine for extracting coconut pulp.




Photo: Manual coconut shaving machine (click to enlarge)


Most often, the machine is attached to the edge of the table, like a grandmother's meat grinder. I have it on a rubber suction cup.

How to use the machine, I'll tell you. You need to take a half of a split coconut with one hand, lean it against a toothed roller, and turn the handle of the machine with the other hand, gradually turning the coconut.

Of course, without this miracle thing, making coconut flakes is much more tiring. But nothing is impossible in this life.

Coconut shavings at home.

To make coconut flakes at home, we need either a grater or a blender. First, you should extract the white flesh from the coconut shell. It fits snugly enough to the shell, but it is quite possible to separate it. This can be done with a sharp knife, as if picking and breaking. The flesh will come off with a thin, brown layer that needs to be cut off before we start making shavings. At this stage, it remains to rub the pulp on a grater or chop in a blender. Coconut is ready.

Recipes with coconut flakes with photos.



Photo: Coconut flakes are ready (click to enlarge)


How many shavings are obtained from one coconut. For the first attempt, this is enough for making cakes and spicy snacks.

So, we are preparing coconut roti cakes. In Sri Lanka they are called “Pol Roti”

Coconut cake recipe.



Photo: Coconut roti. In the photo on the right (click to enlarge)

What do you need:

• flesh of half a coconut
• 1.5 cups flour
• 50 grams margarine or butter
• red onion
• fresh chili pepper
• fresh curry leaves (optional)
• vegetable or coconut oil

What we do:

• shavings of half a coconut
• Red onion
• garlic clove
• chili pepper powder

What we do:

1. In a mortar, mash the chopped onion, garlic, salt and chili pepper.
2. Add the mixture to the coconut.
3. Squeeze out the lemon.

Fast, and believe me, very tasty. Used by hand, like everything else in Sri Lanka.

And now I want to tell you how to make coconut milk yourself from coconut flakes.

How to make coconut milk from coconut flakes.

There are two ways to get coconut milk from coconut flakes. One of them is quite simple.

Method number 1. Using a blender.

Fresh coconut pulp, put in a blender and pour one or two glasses of water. We turn on the blender and as the color and consistency change, we determine the readiness of the milk. It should be thick and opaque. Now you can strain the milk through cheesecloth.

Method number 2. Manually.

We take the fresh pulp of one coconut, pour one or two glasses of water into the chips (the amount of water depends on the desired concentration of coconut milk). And now carefully knead the pulp with your hands and squeeze out the milk with your palms. The liquid will become denser and begin to acquire saturated, White color. Now is the time to strain the milk through cheesecloth.
Coconut milk is the main ingredient in curries. see this link.

Here are some little tricks about coconut flakes we have covered. I hope my tips and recipes have been helpful to you.

Thanks for reading. Write and ask questions.