Have You Ever wondered why people living in South India love coconut milk so much? Well, we’ve given it much thought and we’re here to tell you all about it!
We were fascinated by the more than liberal use of coconut in South India, so today, we set off on a journey to find out what is so special about this fruit!
Why choose coconut in the first place? It is known as the fruit of wonders! Indians have a special way of using coconuts! Whether it is an auspicious bursting of a coconut or the refreshing taste of what we like to call, ‘nariyal paani’ or a ‘chumpy’ on the head with coconut oil, we make the most use of it! It tends to have magical powers to it.
While writing this, all we had in our mind was Monica Geller screaming, “I Know!” because we know how much coconut means to us!
It has a special place in the heart of South Indians, as they see it as an ‘ambrosial’ fruit, which is the ‘soul’ of their cuisine! Used mostly in the form of coconut milk, they use it in every dish they make, and the beautiful aroma that comes makes us weak in the knees!
Why do you think South Indians love coconut milk so much? Well, it is not just the taste, but its health benefits too! We’d like to share a few of the benefits of coconut milk.
It helps in maintaining weight:
There have been researches, which state that coconut milk may help in maintaining weight, body composition and help improve metabolism.
About 50% of Coconut Oil is made up of lauric acid, which can be classified as both long-chain fatty acids or medium-chain fatty acids, as it is said that the chain length and the metabolic effects are somewhere between the two!
Just like us, who cannot decide between ice cream or hot chocolate!
However, it is said that coconut oil contains 12% of true medium-chain fatty acids, namely capric and caprylic acids. These acids go from the digestive tract into the liver directly, where they are changed into energy or are used for ketone production. These are very less likely to be stored as fat.
Not just this, the presence of medium-chain fatty acids also helps in reducing appetite and reduces the intake of calories as compared to other fats.
It helps in keeping the heart healthy and maintain cholesterol levels:
It is often wondered by people whether coconut milk, with its richness in saturated fat, is actually helpful in maintaining a healthy heart.
However, there are studies, which state that consuming coconut milk may be beneficial for people with normal or high cholesterol levels. A study was conducted on 60 men, where it was found that consuming camel milk porridge helped in lowering “bad” cholesterol levels more than soy milk porridge. It was also found that coconut milk porridge helped in increasing good cholesterol levels by 18%, as compared to only 3% of soy.
It is beneficial for the skin:
Coconut Milk for skin is something that we have all heard about. It acts as a natural scrub, where experts state that coconut milk can be used as a cleanser due to its antibacterial properties. The fats present in coconut milk do not clog the pores, which helps in preventing acne. Further, coconut milk can be used for gently exfoliating the skin.
With its richness in Vitamin C, coconut milk can be helpful in maintaining the flexibility and elasticity of the skin. It helps in reducing wrinkles, saggy skin, age spots, etc. as it contains copper.
It helps in keeping the skin moisturized. Just applying coconut milk directly to your skin for 20-30 minutes a day will help in fighting dryness and keep your skin glowing and healthy.
We’ve tried coconut milk on our skin, and we’d recommend you do it too!
Enough said about its benefits on the skin. You must be wondering how South Indians use coconut milk in everything they cook? Well, what can you make with coconut milk? We’ll tell you!
1. Coconut Corn Soup
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Chopped onions
- Ginger paste
- Red chillies paste
- Turmeric
- Cut Baby corn
- 2-inch lemongrass
- Freshly grounded black pepper
- Chopped nuts and some coriander
- Hye’s Coconut milk powder
Process:
- In a pan, take very little oil, and once hot, add finely chopped onions and sauté till translucent.
- Add little ginger paste and sauté till the raw smell goes off.
- Add a little curry powder, red chilli paste, a little turmeric and dice cut baby corn, Sauté well.
- Add the coconut milk (2 tbsp. of Hye’s coconut powder mixed with one and a half cup of warm water), 2-inch lemongrass and let it boil.
- Adjust the consistency by adding a little more water, add salt. Let it simmer for 4-5 minutes.
- In the end, add some freshly grounded black pepper powder.
- Garnish with nuts and some coriander.
2. Coconut Milk Custard
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of Hye Foods Coconut Milk Powder
- 2 tbsp. Cornflour
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 4-5 drops of Vanilla Essence
- Dry fruits and Cut fruits for garnishing.
Process:
- Take half a litre of water and add 2 cups of Coconut milk powder and mix it well.
- Heat a heavy-bottomed pan and the prepared coconut milk.
- Take 2 tbsp. of Cornflour, make a paste & add it to the milk.
- Keep stirring till it becomes thick.
- Add ½ cup of sugar and 4-5 drops of Vanilla essence.
- Cook on a medium flame for 15 minutes and let it cool.
- Garnish it with dry fruits and cut fruits, it is ready to eat.
These were just a few of the recipes that we have loved making with Coconut Milk! Would you like to try them too?
Get your hands on Hye Foods Coconut Milk Powder and try these recipes for yourself!