The market · Fats and oils · Southeast Asia, South Asia

Coconut cream

The thick first pressing of grated coconut, or the cream that rises in a tin. Richer than coconut milk, for finishing curries and for desserts.

rich · sweet · nutty

What to do with it

Classics built on it
FilipinoBicol expressPork simmered in coconut milk with shrimp paste and a great many chillies, until the sauce is thick and oily.No one here has made it yetSouth IndianAppam and stewBowl-shaped rice pancakes, lacy at the edge and soft in the middle, with a mild stew of coconut milk, whole spices and potato.No one here has made it yet

If you can't find it

Cans beside the coconut milk.

  1. 1Coconut milk
    Chill a can overnight and spoon off the solid top
    You lose nothing, if you use only the solid part.

Goes with

chilliporkpandan leafpalm sugar

Knowing it

Where to buy
Tins and cartons at Asian grocers; check that the only ingredients are coconut and water.
Worth knowing
For Thai curries, fry the paste in coconut cream until the oil separates before adding the rest.

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