Hand-crafted Coconut Cream – Imbibe Journal

Discover the three “eyes” on the excessive of the coconut. With a nail or corkscrew, fastidiously puncture a niche by the use of the softest of the three eyes. Drain the liquid contained within the coconut proper right into a glass (you can strain this liquid and drink it alone over ice).

With a hammer, firmly nonetheless fastidiously hit throughout the coconut’s equator (take into consideration the pierced eye as a result of the North Pole). Proceed to rotate the coconut to hit spherical its whole circumference. After a variety of rounds it could reduce up in two.

Place the coconut throughout the freezer for quarter-hour. This may increasingly help separate the flesh inside from the exhausting outer shell. With a paring knife, gently take away the white coconut flesh; discard the shell. Using a vegetable peeler, take away any remaining shell fragments from the coconut flesh.

In a blender, pulse the coconut flesh with ¼ cup of water until it resembles a tough pulp. Scoop the pulp proper right into a cheesecloth-lined colander and strain into an enormous bowl. Gather the corners of the cheesecloth, and use your fingers to wring the cheesecloth-wrapped coconut, extracting as rather a lot liquid as doable.

Pour the coconut liquid proper right into a small saucepan and convey merely to a boil. Stirring with a wooden spoon, cut back heat to medium-low and let simmer for 5 minutes.

Take away from the heat and stir throughout the sugar and maple syrup. Pour proper into a transparent glass jar and let rest in a single day at room temperature to allow the cream of coconut to separate from the coconut oil. Scoop off the cream and preserve refrigerated for as a lot as 1 week.

Makes about 1 cup.

TIPS: To look at the freshness of a coconut, shake it close to your ear. In case you hear the coconut water sloshing spherical inside, it’s good. If not, best switch on to a unique. Whenever you’ve extracted all the cream in step 4, steep the cheesecloth-bound coconut in 1 cup of scorching water for 5 minutes. Squeeze out as rather a lot liquid as doable. Cowl and refrigerate this coconut “milk” to utilize in all of the items from iced espresso to cooking coconut rice. In case you’re unsure about cracking open a coconut, watch this useful video for further recommendations.