Coconut Craze
Most low carb (and certainly dairy-free) diets turn to coconut milk as a substitute for cow’s milk. It’s rich, creamy, super low carb and provides healthy fats, which are especially good for keto diets. Because 98% of the 131 Method recipes are dairy-free, AND we cater to lots of vegans, we use coconut milk and coconut cream often. People with nut allergies generally tolerate it well too, making it a real win for the team!
One of the few drawbacks is that most coconut milk comes in 13.5-ounce cans, but many recipes don’t call for that much, leading to potential waste. Canned coconut milk doesn’t last long after it’s been opened either; just a couple days. You can freeze it in ice cube trays, as we like to do, for future use (and delicious smoothies). But, sometimes those get frost bitten (or forgotten) before ever getting used. Or, you might whip up a fudge recipe to use the rest…but we don’t always have time for that! So what’s a girl to do?!
Enter the Solution
Believe it or not, there’s solution that legit tastes great, and might just have you converting to [GASP] milk from a pouch! If you’ve ever seen powdered boxed milk on the bottom shelf of a baking aisle at the supermarket, you might wonder what in the heck people do with such a thing. Well, they stir the powder (which is usually not organic) with water and make milk. Our hack is pretty much the same thing, only this powder belongs center aisle with flashing lights all around it…cuz this stuff is GOOD!
Coconut milk powder is a fine, white powder used in many types of cuisines. Manufactured through the spray drying process of raw unsweetened coconut cream, you simply add water to reconstitute it for use in recipes that call for coconut milk. The less water, the thicker and creamier your result (as in coconut cream). Or, add extra water for regular, or even “lite” varieties. It has all of the flavor of coconut milk and is naturally sweet without any added sugar. And no…it doesn’t taste like a coconut. It’s just a creamy milk with subtle natural sweetness.
3 Reasons to Give it a Whirl
- Cost Effective. Simply scoop what you need and add water. No more throwing out what’s leftover from your cans! At over $2 per can for organic varieties, you’ll be saving some cash. Plus, you can use it in cooking just like canned!
- Travels Well. Ever stay in a hotel with a great little coffee maker but only processed powdered creamer and disgusting pink packets of saccharin? Simply travel with a small container of your own “creamer.” Bring a little of your own stevia too! 🙂
- Blend it Creamy. Add it to your blender when whipping up your 131 Coffee and get the most amazing coffeehouse froth right in your kitchen. You can also blend it into green smoothies or protein shakes for added creaminess (but in cold drinks it gets a little chunky…in a good way). It’s a fun little addition to hot tea too, making it more of a sipping treat than a bitter beverage.
Where to Buy?
You might find it in a specialty or natural grocery store, but we just grab ours online here off Amazon or there are other brands on ThriveMarket.com. Be sure to look for variety without any added sugar!
