World Coconut Day: 5 must-try delicacies to celebrate the occasion
September 2 is World Coconut Day!
This day commemorates the formation of the Asian Pacific Coconut Community (APCC). The APCC is based in Jakarta, Indonesia, and all major coconut-growing countries, including India, are members of APCC.
On this day, the world celebrates one of nature’s healthiest foods and promotes the use and importance of coconuts.
Widely used as a fruit and as an ingredient in many Indian recipes, coconut is highly nutritious and comes with an array of health benefits. This tropical fruit has enormous health benefits.
The sweet water extracted from the inside of a coconut is a great source of hydration and possesses many other incredible benefits as well to maintain overall well-being.
How can we not talk about the popular coconut oil that has been in use for years to keep the hair shinier and skin smoother? There are endless reasons to go nuts over coconut!
Among all the good reasons for coconut, using its white flesh meat for cooking is my favourite. It can be used in many aromatic dishes to add a nice flavour to savoury dishes.
The internet is full of coconut-inspired dishes, however, there are a few of them that stand at the top above all. From starters to sweet dishes, there is a way to incorporate coconut into your dish.
Don’t believe us? Take a look at this menu.
Coconut chutney
Coconut chutney is a staple condiment in South Indian cuisine, enjoyed with a delicious variety of savoury snacks.
The chutney is made by blending freshly grated coconut with green chillies, ginger, cilantro, and a touch of yoghurt or tamarind for tanginess.
This versatile chutney adds a burst of flavour and freshness to Indian dishes, showcasing the delightful pairing of coconut with aromatic spices.
Coconut rice
Fairly simple to make, coconut rice is another popular South Indian dish that is made by mixing boiled rice with fried coconut, cashew nuts, and green and red chillies.
You can also add lentils to enhance the experience of the overall dish. Serve it to your friends and family by garnishing it with coriander leaves and drizzle some lemon juice while eating.
Rendang
Rendang is a famous Indonesian dish consisting of slow-cooked beef simmered in a rich and spicy coconut milk-based sauce.
The coconut milk not only tenderises the beef but also imparts a creamy texture and balances the bold flavours of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric and chilli peppers.
This flavourful dish is often served during special occasions and celebrations in Indonesia.
Coconut kheer
Kheer is a traditional Indian dessert. Made with milk and rice, it is perfect for every occasion. But if you are looking for a vegan version, then coconut kheer is perfect for you.
It is a rich and creamy dessert that uses fresh coconut and coconut milk instead of regular milk. You can flavour coconut kheer with cardamom and cinnamon powder and garnish with chopped nuts.
Raita
Combine grated coconut with yoghurt, water, chilli powder, and toss salt as per the taste buds.
Rich, creamy and healthy coconut is ready within a few minutes. Even if you are an amateur cook, you just can’t get wrong with this one because it’s super easy and quick to make.
You can also add different veggies to make it extra healthy and flavourful. And, don’t forget to garnish the refreshing raita with coriander leaves or mustard seeds to relish the tempting flavour, and serve it along with breyani.