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11 Delicious Coconut Recipes

Posted: 11/08/11 08:59 AM ET

Coconut is one of those love-hate ingredients. I happen to love coconut, particularly for that sweet and crunchy texture it adds to any dish. Not only is it delicious but the fruit itself is versatile since all parts of it can be put to use. While most individuals use the flesh of the coconut in their cooking, coconut water and oil are also known to have numerous health benefits.

Coconut oil is one of the most beneficial sources of fat. It is comprised of medium-chain fatty acids or MCFAs, which are easier to break down and metabolize into energy than large-chain fatty acids, which are often stored in the body as fat for later use. Aside from its healthy fat content, coconut can also help boost the immune system, promote weight loss, and provide vitamins and minerals.

I put together this gallery of 11 recipes with the help of Food Republic, which will make you love coconut as much as I do.

What is your favorite coconut dish?

For more great recipes and food facts, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@MarcusCooks).

Coconut Rice Pudding with Fried Banana
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An extravagant pudding recipe that is easy-to-make. Banana and coconut two go together like spaghetti and meatballs, and it makes for a rock star dessert because instead of being loaded with tons of refined sugars, it uses dried and fresh fruits.

Recipe: Coconut Rice Pudding with Fried Banana
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halfpricefaustian
Voted for Obama. Waiting for Godot.
01:29 PM on 11/10/2011
I think Marcus Samuelsson is the most interesting chef around today. I like how he brings interesting and accessible flavors to the forefront. I recently started cooking fairly regularly with coconut milk and using coconut oil. So far I am just at the "open a can of coconut milk, add a can of massaman curry paste....", but I like coconut milk curries a lot. Having a few kaffir lime trees on my porch helps and I intend to keep fresh thai basil available starting next spring.

I hope Marcus will offer recipes of a variety of stuffed dumplings, like pierogi, gyoza, dim sum, tapas, knishes, etc. someday. That's my current fun food.
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E. Nina Rothe
Global culture explorer
08:55 AM on 11/10/2011
Granola with a banana and coconut milk in the morning. YUM! I'm definitely a coconut lover, not a hater. Will try one and all of these recipes!
02:53 PM on 11/08/2011
Coconut macaroon pancakes ... ; ) Thanks!
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livingbettertherapy
Counselor, Therapist, Strategic Intervention
02:28 PM on 11/08/2011
Tom Kha Gai, Thai Coconut soup is also my favorite. My wife used to make it for her family's farm workers back in Thailand. Director Abraham Oceransky came to have dinner with us a while back. He insisted that he does not like soup but decided to try my wife's version of this Thai classic. He ended up enjoying three bowls of it. Trying new things enriches you in ways that you never imagined. If you have never had Tom Kha Gai, it's is quite possible you have yet to taste one of your favorite dishes.
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01:40 PM on 11/08/2011
Thank you very much, Marcus Samuelson. Coconut is one of my favorite foods, heathy and delicious, and it's great to see these wonderful recipes.
Inspirational!
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John Stopple
12:17 PM on 11/08/2011
Thanks Marcus! I love these recipes.

I'm going to make a sextet of these even though the judges are advising me not to. /joke
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12:11 PM on 11/08/2011
omgosh tom kai gha is my favorite soup in the world....i've travelled a lot, i know what is good soup. also the 4 seasons in hong kong has the best martini in the world.
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missjulz
romneying with scissors always gets someone hurt
11:36 AM on 11/08/2011
I am sooooo making the mulligatawny soup this fall.
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DrJohnnySkeptic
The road to success is always under construction.
09:44 AM on 11/08/2011
There's about three recipes on this list I'm going to try. Tasty!