Raw Food: All About Young Coconuts
When creating raw food recipes, the young coconut is a healthy substitution for many of the dairy products that we have eliminated. Raw food is traditionally vegan. Coming up with recipes that remind us of the traditional recipes that call for cream, butter and cheese requires creativity with the ingredients that we do use, such as nuts and coconut.
Coconut flesh, coconut oil and coconut butter are healthy substitutions. Recent research as found that the saturated fat contained in coconut actually protects against heart disease, stroke and hardening of the arteries. Coconut oil contains large amounts of lauric acid which is the main fatty acid found in breast milk. Lauric acid strengthens the immune system and protects against viral, bacterial and fungal infections. You can read more about the health benefits of coconuts here.
What kind of coconuts do you use for the recipes? I use young Thai coconuts. They are coconuts in the earlier stages of development. (See above picture). You can find them at co-ops, Whole Foods, Asian markets and online. Recently I found a site that has great prices for fresh, organic young coconuts. I have not ordered any from here but wanted to let you know about the site. The owner wanted me to let you know that sometimes it might take a week or two to get your order because they ship as the coconuts become available. The link is: Florida Coconuts.
What is the difference between coconut oil and coconut butter? Coconut Oil is pressed out of the coconut flesh either by centrifugal force ( unrefined, virgin coconut oil) or the cold pressed method. Coconut Butter is coconut oil plus coconut solids. It contains the oil and the flesh of the coconut.
Opening Coconuts: When I first started experimenting with raw foods, I was intimidated by coconuts. I had no idea how to open them. I tried a tree saw, a huge cleaver and various knives. Every attempt was finally met with success but only after some pretty scary moments and fear of removing body parts. Then, I stumbled upon a video showing the correct way to open a young coconut. Honestly, it is so easy, I couldn’t believe how much stress I had previously put myself through.
Trim excess husk from pointed top of coconut.
It will look like this.
With the bottom edge of your knife, strike the coconut towards the top.
Continue to strike the coconut around the top until you have reached your starting place.
Lift the lid, pour out the water (save it as it is quite good for you) and scrape out the flesh with a spoon!
Patricia Robinett wrote on January 30, 2010
one of my favorite foods! i used to use an electric screwdriver… a jig saw… a machete…. until i learned to cut off all the fluff on the top until you can see the wood clearly. then simply TAP around the top in a circle with the back of your knife or machete until a little opening occurs… (coconuts must develop like trees, building circles of fibers)… a little circular trap door will begin to open… then take the knife and with the blade, gently pry it open, up and down, left and right… even less violence for those who are really scared of knives. 🙂
Susan wrote on January 30, 2010
Yes…that is exactly how I do it in the post…except I do use the knife edge. Not much force is required at all.
Evita @ Jakarta Indonesia wrote on January 30, 2010
Hi Susan.. If your coconut younger.. it’s more easy.. 🙂
do you know how to choose the young coconut?
Erin @ Living and Loving In L.A. wrote on January 29, 2010
Oh my gosh! I did a similar post earlier this month! Although yours was way more informative.
Susan wrote on January 29, 2010
The key to making it really easy is the multiple hacks around the top.
dee wrote on January 29, 2010
Have you ever made coconut cream from mature coconuts? I keep reading about it in recipes and don’t know what screen to use?
dee wrote on January 29, 2010
Except for cutting off the excess husk, this is how I open them up.
I just want to know, how do you know if you have a lot of flesh in the inside of the coconut.
rachael wrote on October 29, 2014
Going by weight is best.
Sometimes a smaller coconut will be heavier than a larger sized one. Those are the best ones…the denser the better.
Susan wrote on January 29, 2010
Honestly, I have opened up coconuts that I couldn’t even use. They all look the same from the outside.
Serenity wrote on January 29, 2010
If only it were that easy. I have to break out the toolbox. First, I drill a hole with a drill to claim all the liquid. Then break the joker with a hammer.
Susan wrote on January 29, 2010
You should try this method, It is very easy. I was amazed.
joanna wrote on January 29, 2010
Thanks for clearing this up, I’m sure many body parts will be spared, lol! Great info… really. 😀
Now I’m off to check out that coconut site! Vroom…